Transcriptome-level effects of the model organic pollutant phenanthrene and its solvent acetone in three amphipod species.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are common pollutants of water ecosystems originating from incineration processes and contamination with mineral oil. Water solubility of PAHs is generally low; for toxicity tests with aquatic organisms, they are therefore usually dissolved in organic solvents. Here we examined the effects of a typical model PAH, phenanthrene, and a solvent, acetone, on amphipods as relevant aquatic invertebrate models.

Heat shock induces production of reactive oxygen species and increases inner mitochondrial membrane potential in winter wheat cells.

Heat shock leads to oxidative stress. Excessive ROS (reactive oxygen species) accumulation could be responsible for expression of genes of heat-shock proteins or for cell death. It is known that in isolated mammalian mitochondria high protonic potential on the inner membrane actuates the production of ROS.

Mitochondrial energy-dissipating systems (alternative oxidase, uncoupling proteins, and external NADH dehydrogenase) are involved in development of frost-resistance of winter wheat seedlings.

Gene expression, protein synthesis, and activities of alternative oxidase (AOX), uncoupling proteins (UCP), adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), and non-coupled NAD(P)H dehydrogenases (NDex, NDPex, and NDin) were studied in shoots of etiolated winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings after exposure to hardening low positive (2°C for 7 days) and freezing (-2°C for 2 days) temperatures. The cold hardening efficiently increased frost-resistance of the seedlings and decreased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during further cold shock.