Nutritional Effect and Expression of SODs: Induction and Gene Expression; Diagnostics; Prospective Protection Against Oxygen Toxicity

Abstract

The effect of micronutrient stress (either deficiency or toxicity) on the expression or different superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in plants is reviewed. The induction of Fe-SOD and Mn-SOD by different metals and the potential use of the metalloentyme system SOD lor the appraisal of the micronutrient status of plants, is examined. At subcellular level, evidence for the participation of peroxisomal SOD in the molecular mechanism of plant tolerance to Cu is presented, and the activated oxygen-dependent toxicity of a xenobiotic (clofibrate) in plant peroxisomes is examined.

Key Words:

• Superoxide dismutase
• activated oxygen
• plant nutrition
• gene expression
• metal stress
• peroxisomes.