Oxidative stress and DNA damages induced by cadmium accumulation
LIN Ai-jun , ZHANG Xu-hong , CHEN Mei-mei , CAO Qing
DOI:
Received June 12, 2006,Revised July 17, 2006, Accepted , Available online
Volume 19,2007,Pages 596-602
- Summary
- References
- Related Articles
Experimental evidence shows that cadmium (Cd) could induce oxidative stress and then causes DNA damage in animal cells,
however, whether such e ect exists in plants is still unclear. In the present study, Vicia faba plants was exposed to 5 and 10 mg/L
Cd for 4 d to investigate the distribution of Cd in plant, the metal e ects on the cell lipids, antioxidative enzymes and DNA damages
in leaves. Cd induced an increase in Cd concentrations in plants. An enhanced level of lipid peroxidation in leaves and an enhanced
concentration of H2O2 in root tissues suggested that Cd caused oxidative stress in Vicia faba. Compared with control, Cd-induced
enhancement in superoxide dismutase activity was more significant at 5 mg/L than at 10 mg/L in leaves, by contrast, catalase and
peroxidase activities were significantly suppressed by Cd addition. DNA damage was detected by neutral/neutral, alkaline/neutral and
alkaline/alkaline Comet assay. Increased levels of DNA damages induced by Cd occurred with reference to oxidative stress in leaves,
therefore, oxidative stress induced by Cd accumulation in plants contributed to DNA damages and was likely an important mechanism
of Cd-phytotoxicity in Vicia faba plants.
