Artigo
Growth inhibition by selenium is associated with changes in primary metabolism and nutrient levels in Arabidopsis thaliana
Autor
Ribeiro, Dimas M.
Silva Júnior, Dalton D.
Cardoso, Flávio Barcellos
Martins, Auxiliadora O.
Silva, Welder A.
Nascimento, Vitor L.
Araújo, Wagner L.
Institución
Resumen
Although Selenium (Se) stress is relatively well known for
causing growth inhibition, its effects on primary metabolism
remain rather unclear. Here, we characterized both the modu-
lation of the expression of specific genes and the metabolic
adjustments in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to changes
in Se level in the soil. Se treatment culminated with strong
inhibition of both shoot and root growth. Notably, growth
inhibition in Se‐treated plants was associated with an incom-
plete mobilization of starch during the night. Minor changes
in amino acids levels were observed in shoots and roots of
plants treated with Se whereas the pool size of tricarboxylic
acid (TCA) cycle intermediates in root was not altered in
response to Se. By contrast, decreased levels of organic acids
involved in the first part of the TCA cycle were observed in
shoots of Se‐treated plants. Furthermore, decreased expression
levels of expansins and endotransglucosylases/endohydrolases
(XHTs) genes were observed after Se treatment, coupled with
a significant decrease in the levels of essential elements. Collec-
tively, our results revealed an exquisite interaction between
energy metabolism and Se‐mediated control of growth in
Arabidopsis thaliana to coordinate cell wall extension, starch
turnover and the levels of a few essential nutrients.