Role of nitric oxide in plants

Abstract

Poput svih organizama, tako i biljke moraju biti sposobne odgovoriti na široki raspon okolišnih čimbenika. Sukladno tome, pojedinačne biljne stanice trebaju mehanizme primanja podražaja i odgovora na veliki broj unutarnjih i vanjskih signala. Dušikov monoksid jedna je od signalnih molekula koje biljka aktivno koristi za vrijeme rasta, razvoja i prevladavanja stresnih uvjeta. Dosadašnji eksperimentalni podaci pokazali su da je NO uključen u reproduktivne procese, kontrolu pojedinih etapa životnog ciklusa, te regulaciju fizioloških odgovora poput zatvaranja puči. Iako su signalizacijski procesi i sama sinteza dušikova monoksida dobro proučeni u animalnim sustavima, u biljaka preostaju brojna neriješena fundamentalna pitanja na koja znanost tek treba dati odgovore. NO je relativno reaktivna molekula, te stoga nije uvijek jednostavna za istraživanje. Također, njenu biološku aktivnost treba promatrati u kontekstu interakcije s drugim aktivnim spojevima poput reaktivnih oblika kisika (ROS), koji snažno utječu na akumulaciju i funkciju spojeva na koje djeluju. Postoji znatan interes za daljnjim istraživanjima uloge NO na području biljne fiziologije iz razloga što jedino odgovori koji nedostaju mogu u potpunosti objasniti širok spektar korisnih i štetnih učinaka koje ova molekula izaziva u biljaka.Like all organisms, plants have to be able to respond to a wide range of environmental factors. Accordingly, single plant cells require perception and responsiveness mechanisms for a variety of inner and outer signals. Nitric oxide is one of the signal molecules actively used by plants during growth, development and survival of stressful conditions. Recent experimental data has revealed that NO is involved in reproductive processes, control of certain life cycle periods and regulation of physiological responses such as stomatal closure. Although signalization pathways and mechanisms of nitric oxide synthesis are well studied in animal systems, there still remain many fundamental questions regarding plants that need to be resolved. NO is a relatively reactive molecule, and thus not always easy to study. Additionally, its biological activity needs to be observed in regard to interaction with other volatile compounds such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have the ability to strongly modulate accumulation and function of affected substances. A great deal of interest remains regarding further explorations of NO role in the domain of plant physiology since only the missing answers can help explain the complex network of reactions leading to adverse or beneficial effects in plants