Publications (2)2.94 Total impact
-
Article: Responses of Lemna trisulca L. (Duckweed) exposed to low doses of cadmium: thiols, metal binding complexes, and photosynthetic pigments as sensitive biomarkers of ecotoxicity.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Lemna species are reported to accumulate a variety of metals from contaminated/polluted sites. Cadmium is a nonessential element for plant metabolism. In this work, we aimed to investigate physiological responses to low doses of cadmium (up to 100 microM). From exposure to the lowest Cd concentration (1 microM) to the highest (100 microM), photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, b, carotenoids) and the ratios of Chl a/b, Chl (a + b)/carotenoids decreased as a function of the Cd dose. The content of soluble proteins decreased in a dose-dependent manner, while total soluble thiols drastically increased. In Cd-treated fronds, the dose-dependent accumulation of a polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 24 kDa, as well as the appearance of two smaller polypeptides with molecular weights <6.5 kDa, was observed in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Our results show that in Lemna trisulca, different adaptative mechanisms may be involved in counterbalancing low and high doses of a particular toxicant (cadmium). This feature makes this plant potentially useful material in biomonitoring and phytotoxicity testing.Protoplasma 12/2009; 240(1-4):69-74. · 1.92 Impact Factor -
Article: Copper toxicity in leaves of Elodea canadensis Michx.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Elodea canadensis (Canadian waterweed) has an ability to accumulate and bioconcentrate heavy metals. In this work, selected cellular responses for Cu treatment were studied in leaves of E. canadensis. Short term experiments, i.e. 1 week exposure to 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 microM of Cu indicated that concentrations up to 10 microM Cu causes a pronounced accumulation of photosynthetic pigments, a drastic degradation of soluble proteins with molecular weight above 18 kDa and a rapid accumulation of polypeptides with molecular weight below 14 kDa. The connection of these observations with copper detoxification mechanisms in aquatic macrophytes are discussed.Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 02/2009; 82(5):627-32. · 1.02 Impact Factor
