Metabolic responses of terrestrial macrolichens to nickel

KOVÁČIK, Jozef, Sławomir DRESLER and Petr BABULA. Metabolic responses of terrestrial macrolichens to nickel. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. Paris: Elsevier, 2018, vol. 127, JUN 2018, p. 32-38. ISSN 0981-9428. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.03.006.

Basic information

• Original name: Metabolic responses of terrestrial macrolichens to nickel
• Authors: KOVÁČIK, Jozef (703 Slovakia, guarantor), Sławomir DRESLER (616 Poland) and Petr BABULA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Paris, Elsevier, 2018, 0981-9428.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30105 Physiology
• Country of publisher: France
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 3.404
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14110/18:00104159
• Organization unit: Faculty of Medicine
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.03.006
• UT WoS: 000434751400004
• Keywords in English: Antioxidants; Heavy metals; Organic acids; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species (ROS); Thiols
• Tags: 14110515, rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Short-term (24 h) responses of Cladonia arbuscula subsp. mitis (formerly known as Cladina and this name is used to distinguish the tested species) and Cladonia furcata to nickel (Ni-2(+)) excess (10 or 100 mu M) were compared. Cladonia accumulated more Ni at higher Ni dose (1.717 mg total Ni/g DW), K amount was unaffected and Ca amount decreased in Cladina only. Fluorescence microscopy detection of total/general ROS and hydrogen peroxide showed Ni-stimulated increase in both species being more pronounced in Cladonia and in mycobiont partner mainly. Nitric oxide visualization (diaminonaphthalene staining) also revealed elevation in response to Ni that could contribute to synthesis of protective metabolites: they may include ascorbic acid or reduced glutathione which increased in Ni-exposed Cladina or Cladonia, respectively. Only low content of phytochelatin 2 was detected in Ni-treated Cladonia and the role in Ni chelation is not apparent. Among aliphatic organic acids, content of citric or succinic acid was not or slightly affected by Ni, production of malic acid dropped by ca. 50% in both species and alpha-ketoglutaric acid showed the opposite behavior in the tested species. Data indicate that even short-term Ni treatments induce metabolic changes and symptoms of oxidative stress in lichens, confirming that nickel is not non-toxic metal as frequently visible from standard biochemical assays of basic physiology. Ascorbic acid and GSH rather than aliphatic organic acids seem to contribute to Ni tolerance.