Cadmium-induced hydrogen sulfide synthesis is involved in cadmium tolerance in Medicago sativa by reestablishment of reduced (homo)glutathione and reactive oxygen species homeostases

PLoS One. 2014 Oct 2;9(10):e109669. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109669. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Until now, physiological mechanisms and downstream targets responsible for the cadmium (Cd) tolerance mediated by endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have been elusive. To address this gap, a combination of pharmacological, histochemical, biochemical and molecular approaches was applied. The perturbation of reduced (homo)glutathione homeostasis and increased H2S production as well as the activation of two H2S-synthetic enzymes activities, including L-cysteine desulfhydrase (LCD) and D-cysteine desulfhydrase (DCD), in alfalfa seedling roots were early responses to the exposure of Cd. The application of H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), not only mimicked intracellular H2S production triggered by Cd, but also alleviated Cd toxicity in a H2S-dependent fashion. By contrast, the inhibition of H2S production caused by the application of its synthetic inhibitor blocked NaHS-induced Cd tolerance, and destroyed reduced (homo)glutathione and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostases. Above mentioned inhibitory responses were further rescued by exogenously applied glutathione (GSH). Meanwhile, NaHS responses were sensitive to a (homo)glutathione synthetic inhibitor, but reversed by the cotreatment with GSH. The possible involvement of cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling in NaHS responses was also suggested. In summary, LCD/DCD-mediated H2S might be an important signaling molecule in the enhancement of Cd toxicity in alfalfa seedlings mainly by governing reduced (homo)glutathione and ROS homeostases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cadmium / toxicity*
  • Cystathionine gamma-Lyase / metabolism
  • Glutathione / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen Sulfide / metabolism*
  • Medicago sativa / enzymology
  • Medicago sativa / metabolism*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Seedlings / enzymology
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Soil Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Sulfides / metabolism

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Sulfides
  • Cadmium
  • Cystathionine gamma-Lyase
  • sodium bisulfide
  • Glutathione
  • Hydrogen Sulfide

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (KYZ201316), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants no. 30971711, J1210056, J1310015), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.