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Differential impact of some metal(loid)s on oxidative stress, antioxidant system, sulfur compounds, and protein profile of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

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Abstract

Levels of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) are increasing in the soils worldwide. Such contaminants cause toxicity in the plant systems which adversely affects growth and productivity. The objective of the present investigation was to elucidate individual and combined effects of As, Cr, and Cu (100 μM each) stress in metal hyper-accumulator plant Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.), exposed for a week. The highest accumulation was in the roots and in decreasing order viz. Cu > As > Cr. The magnitude of oxidative stress was maximal in combined stress, followed by As, Cr, and then Cu stress. Glutathione in conjunction with glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase increased in all set of stress treatments, notably when exposed to Cr alone. In addition, the level of sulfur-rich compounds like cysteine, phytochelatins, and non-protein thiols increased under each stress indicating efficient coupling of the enzyme system and sulfur-containing compounds during stress conditions. The highest tolerance or growth index of plants was recorded for Cu. Protein profiling of leaf tissues showed modulation of protein patterns in each stress. Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 1 isoform X1, RuBisCO (large subunit), and ribosomal protein S3 proteins were more abundant under Cr and Cu stress. Zinc finger A20/AN1 domain-containing stress-associated protein 5–like protein was more abundant under Cu stress. HSP (15.7 kDa) and autophagy protein 5–like were in higher abundance under As and combined stress. Our results suggest that Indian mustard has a differential mode of defense against a particular stressor at the level of protein expression profile.

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Acknowledgments

Metal analysis in plant samples facilitated by Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi, India, is appreciatively acknowledged.

Funding

This work is supported by King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia through researchers supporting Project Number RSP-2020/186.

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Author notes

  1. Asma Al-Huqail and Mohammad Irfan Qureshi contributed equally as corresponding author to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110 025, India

    Javed Ahmad, Sadia Qamar,  Nida, Inamul Haq & Mohammad Irfan Qureshi

  2. Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Faheema Khan & Asma Al-Huqail

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  1. Javed Ahmad
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  2. Sadia Qamar
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  3. Nida
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Correspondence to Mohammad Irfan Qureshi.

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Ahmad, J., Qamar, S., Nida et al. Differential impact of some metal(loid)s on oxidative stress, antioxidant system, sulfur compounds, and protein profile of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Protoplasma 257, 1667–1683 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-020-01535-8

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