Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in Pinus mugo needles growing at elevated stands in the mountains, and their photochemical efficiency of PSII

• Published in: Journal of plant physiology 2005-08, Vol.162 (8), p.895-902
• Main Authors: Miszalski, Zbigniew, Libik, Marta, Surówka, Ewa, Niewiadomska, Ewa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alpine plants; Altitude; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; antioxidants; Antioxidative enzymes; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; catalase; Catalase - metabolism; chloroplasts; conifer needles; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; electron transport chain; enzyme activity; forest stands; forest trees; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Light; maximum photochemical efficiency; mountains; Oxidative Stress; photosynthesis; photosystem II; Photosystem II Protein Complex - metabolism; Pinus - enzymology; Pinus mugo; plant biochemistry; plant ecology; Plant Leaves - enzymology; plant physiology; plant proteins; plant stress; PSII activity; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism
• ISSN: 0176-1617; 1618-1328
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2004.08.011

Pinus mugo needles were sampled at different altitudes (1420, 1590 and 1920 m a.s.l.) to analyse levels of oxidative stress and changes in maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that almost all superoxide dismutase activity represented Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, and only 4–6% represents Mn superoxide dismutase. In extracts from plants sampled at 1590 and 1920 m a.s.l., lower activity of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase was found. Comparing these data with immunoblots, it can be concluded that the differences in superoxide dismutase activity was related to protein amount. In needles from higher altitudes, a decrease in catalase activity was detected, as opposed to the protein amount, which was higher in needles from the higher stands. Considering the decrease in catalase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activities in needles collected at 1590 and 1920 m a.s.l., we suggest that higher levels of oxidative stress may induce changes in photochemical efficiency of PSII.