EFFECTS OF NITROBENZENE ON PLANT ROOT TIP CELLS
197
Thus, two levels of nitrobenzene concentration can be Devdariani, T. V. (1988). Biotransformation of carcinogenic polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons. In Biotransformation of Xenobiotics in
Plants (S. V. Durmishidze, Ed.), pp. 79}162. Metsniereba, Tbilisi.
[in Russian]
cell ultrastructure; at 0.15 mM and higher concentrations,
Durmishidze, S. V., and Ugrekhelidze, D. Sh. (1968). Absorption and
distinguished: concentrations upto 0.015 mM are harmless
for plant cells, as they do not cause noticeable changes in
several ultrastructural changes, leading to the complete
destruction of the cell, occur.
convertion of butane by higher plants. Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 182,
214}216. [in Russian with English abstract]
Durmishidze, S. V., Ugrekhelidze, D. Sh., and Djikiya, A. N. (1974a).
Absorption and transformation of benzene by higher plants.
Physiol. Biokhim. Kult. Rastenii 6, 217}221. [in Russian with English
abstract]
CONCLUSIONS
The e!ect of increasing concentrations of nitrobenzene on
maize and soybean root tip cells ultrastructure was corre-
lated with the intensity of pathological changes. Maize
appeared to be more sensitive to nitrobenzene. Among cell
organelles, the most damaged were nuclei, mitochondria,
and plastids, i.e., the cell genetic apparatus and the sites of
energy formation, which determine cell and plant vitality.
On the basis of ultrastructural investigations it could be
concluded that at 0.015 mM concentration, nitrobenzene
can be detoxicated by the cell. In cells treated with 0.15 mM
nitrobenzene, an intensi"cation of contacts among cell or-
ganelles, especially between endoplasmic reticulum and
mitochondria/plastids, was observed. These data probably
indicate a coordination between organelles responsible for
energy metabolism and those responsible for xenobiotic
degradation, in order to protect cells from xenobiotic toxicity.
Durmishidze, S. V., Ugrekhelidze, D. Sh., and Djikiya, A. N. (1974b).
Absorption and transformation of toluene by higher plants. Prikl. Biok-
him. Microbiol. 10, 673}676. [in Russian with English abstract]
Durst, F. (1991). Biochemistry and physiology of plant cytochrome P-450.
In Frontiers in Biotransformation, Vol. 4, pp 191}232. Academic-Verlag,
Berlin.
Dunnschicht-Chromatographie ein Laboratoriumschandbuch. (1962).
Herausgegeben von E. Stahl. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Gordeziani, M., Khatisashvili, G., Ananiashvili, T., Varazashvili, T.,
Kurashvili, M., Kvesitadze, G., and Tkhelidze, P. (1999). Energetic
signi"cance of plant monooxygenase individual components participat-
ing in xenobiotic degradation. Int. Biodeter. Biodegr. 44, 49}54.
Gordeziani, M. Sh., Khatisashvili, G. A., and Kurashvili, M. V. (1991).
NADPH}cytochrome P450-reductase distribution in plant cell. Bull.
Georgian Acad. Sci. 143, 321}324. [in Russian with English abstract]
Khatisashvili, G., Gordeziani, M., Kvesitadze, G., and Korte, F. (1997).
Plant monooxygenases: Participation in xenobiotic oxidation.
Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 36, 118}122.
Khatisashvili, G., Kurashvili, M., Gordeziani, M., and Kvesitadze, G.
(1993). Monooxygenase and peroxidase pathways of xenobiotics detoxi-
cation in higher plants. Fres. Environ. Bull. 2, 103}108.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study was funded by INTAS-Georgia Grant 97-0716. The authors Korte, F., Kvesitadze, G., Ugrekhelidze, D., Gordeziani, M., Khatisashvili,
thank Dr. Gia Khatisashvili and Dr. Tamar Varazashvili for the synthesis
G., Buadze, M., Zaalishvili, G., and Coulston, F. (2000). Organic toxi-
of radiolabeled nitrobenzene [1-6ꢀꢂ]nitrobenzene.
cants and plants. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 47, 1}26.
Sandermann, H. (1992). Plant metabolism of xenobiotics. ¹rends Biochem.
Sci. 17, 82}84.
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