EXPRESSION OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED PROTEIN GENES AND CHANGES OF SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE ACTIVITY INDUCED BY TOXIC ELEMENTS IN LUPINUS LUTEUS L.

Plants exposed to oxidative stress conditions increase the activity of enzymes involved in antioxidant defence reactions and induce the gene expression of defence protein genes. In our experiments, the effect of toxic elements (Pb, Cd, As) on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the expression of pathogenesis related (PR) protein genes have been investigated in Lupinus luteus L. root tips. The results have shown increased activity of three SOD isoenzymes classified as a Mn-SOD (I), Cu/Zn-SOD (II) and Fe-SOD (III). Moreover, a new isoenzyme form of Mn-SOD was observed following the application of high doses of Cd and As. The expression of the PR10 genes was monitored with gene-specific primers. Increased SOD activity as well as transcriptional activity of PR10 genes suggests their participation in defence reactions under the conditions of oxidative stress.