T. Varazashvili, G. Zaalishvili, M. Kurashvili, M. Pruidze and M. Gordeziani
Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology,
Georgian Academy of Sciences,
David Agmasheneblis Kheivani, 10 km, 380059 Tbilisi,
Georgia
Participation of the plant monooxygenase system in adaptation to environmental stress
The ultrastructural changes of plant cells and the activity of the cytochrome P450-containing monooxygenase system under the action of different stress factors have been studied. It is shown that upon fungal infection cytochrome P450 induction increases. Upon low temperature stress, NADPH-cytochrome P450-reductase becomes part of the energetic apparatus which maintains cell homeostasis. Ultrastructurally, this effect is expressed as an increase in the contacts of the mitochondria with the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum and plastids. Analogous ultrastructural changes are caused by the action of nitrobenzene on the plant. The results obtained demonstrate that the microsomal monooxygenase system can become incorporated into cellular energy metabolism and hence becomes responsible for adaptational processes, besides its main detoxificational function.