In the present study the response of antioxidant enzyme activities and the level of expression of their corresponding genes on bioaccumulation of iron (Fe) were investigated. In vitro germinated ...Withania somnifera L. were grown in Murashige and Skoog’s liquid medium with increasing concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 µM) of FeSO₄for 7 and 14 days. Root and leaf tissues analyzed for catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7), have shown an increase in content with respect to exposure time. Isoforms of CAT, SOD and GPX were separated using non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and observed that the isoenzymes were greatly affected by higher concentrations of Fe. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis performed by taking three pairs of genes of CAT (RsCat, Catalase1, Cat1) and SOD (SodCp, TaSOD1.2, MnSOD) to find out the differential expression of antioxidant genes under Fe excess. RsCat from CAT and MnSOD from SOD have exhibited high levels of gene expression under Fe stress, which was consistent with the changes of the activity assayed in solution after 7 days of treatment. Analysis by proton induced X-ray emission exhibited an increasing uptake of Fe in plants by suppressing and expressing of other nutrient elements. The results of the present study suggest that higher concentration of Fe causes disturbance in nutrient balance and induces oxidative stress in plant.
Awareness among sewage workers to occupational exposure is growing slowly in many developing countries. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are present in sewage water and workers are exposed to these metals ...as a result of unprotected handling. These heavy metals exposures are responsible for DNA damage and lowering blood total iron (Fe) concentration. Zinc (Zn) is an element for promoting metallothionine expression and binds the free Cd. The total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), Pb, and Cd were estimated in sewage water. The whole blood Zn and Fe concentration and Pd and Cd were also estimated. Genotoxicity as indicated by DNA damage was studied by comet assay. It was observed that there were significant differences ( P < 0.001 ) of Pb and Cd concentration in blood for the sewage workers when compared with control population. DNA damage was also observed to be significantly ( P < 0.001 ) higher in the exposed groups but their blood Fe concentration was significantly lower, which may be the reason for their tendency for retention of blood Cd and make them more susceptible. This study also indicated that aged workers had higher blood Zn concentrations as compared to the younger (working < 20 years) workers. This may indicate a possible adaptive response. The present study proposes that younger (working < 20 years) group is more susceptible as compared to aged group (working > 20 years).
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