Urea application promotes amino acid metabolism and membrane lipid peroxidation in Azolla

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 25;12(9):e0185230. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185230. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of urea on nitrogen metabolism and membrane lipid peroxidation in Azolla pinnata. Compared to controls, the application of urea to A. pinnata resulted in a 44% decrease in nitrogenase activity, no significant change in glutamine synthetase activity, 660% higher glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, 39% increase in free amino acid levels, 22% increase in malondialdehyde levels, 21% increase in Na+/K+- levels, 16% increase in Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase levels, and 11% decrease in superoxide dismutase activity. In terms of H2O2 detoxifying enzymes, peroxidase activity did not change and catalase activity increased by 64% in urea-treated A. pinnata. These findings suggest that urea application promotes amino acid metabolism and membrane lipid peroxidation in A. pinnata.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / metabolism
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Ferns / drug effects*
  • Ferns / growth & development
  • Ferns / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects*
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Membrane Lipids / metabolism
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / metabolism
  • Urea / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Urea
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Catalase
  • Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase
  • Nitrogen