Molecular hydrogen is involved in phytohormone signaling and stress responses in plants

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 12;8(8):e71038. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071038. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Molecular hydrogen (H2) metabolism in bacteria and algae has been well studied from an industrial perspective because H2 is viewed as a potential future energy source. A number of clinical trials have recently reported that H2 is a therapeutic antioxidant and signaling molecule. Although H2 metabolism in higher plants was reported in some early studies, its biological effects remain unclear. In this report, the biological effects of H2 and its involvement in plant hormone signaling pathways and stress responses were determined. Antioxidant enzyme activity was found to be increased and the transcription of corresponding genes altered when the effects of H2 on the germination of mung bean seeds treated with phytohormones was investigated. In addition, upregulation of several phytohormone receptor genes and genes that encode a few key factors involved in plant signaling pathways was detected in rice seedlings treated with HW. The transcription of putative rice hydrogenase genes, hydrogenase activity, and endogenous H2 production were also determined. H2 production was found to be induced by abscisic acid, ethylene, and jasmonate acid, salt, and drought stress and was consistent with hydrogenase activity and the expression of putative hydrogenase genes in rice seedlings. Together, these results suggest that H2 may have an effect on rice stress tolerance by modulating the output of hormone signaling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Hydrogen / metabolism*
  • Oryza / genetics
  • Oryza / metabolism
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism*
  • Plant Growth Regulators / pharmacology
  • Plants / genetics
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Pheromone / genetics
  • Receptors, Pheromone / metabolism
  • Seedlings / genetics
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • Stress, Physiological*
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Receptors, Pheromone
  • Hydrogen
  • Superoxide Dismutase

Grants and funding

This research was supported by NSFC (Natural Science Foundation of China) grant (31071352) and grant (KSCX3-EW-M-07) of the Chinese Academy of Science. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.