Effect of increased gene expression of alternative external NADH dehydrogenase of mitochondria of Arabidopsis thaliana on the generation of reactive oxygen in Nicotiana tabacum tobacco leaves at low temperatures

Low temperature is an important factor limiting plant viability and productivity. Along with other stresses, low temperatures increase the generation of reactive oxygen species, which are signaling molecules that can damage cell components. As well as representing one of the main targets of oxidative damage during stress, mitochondria represent a significant source of reactive oxygen species. Plant mitochondria have a large number of enzymes providing alternative electron transport pathways, many of which are activated under stress. Our aim was to assess the effect of low positive temperatures and increased expression of the heterologous gene NDB2 (alternative external NADH dehydrogenase of mitochondria) on the generation of reactive oxygen species, which involve an alternative respiratory chain in mitochondria and the expression of stress proteins under lighting conditions in Nicotiana tabacum tobacco leaves. In the leaves of tobacco plants with increased expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana NDB2 (AtNDB2) gene, a decrease in reactive oxygen species production was observed under normal and low temperature conditions. The results indicate that the heterologous Arabidopsis thaliana NDB2 gene is involved in increasing the activity of the alternative electron transport chain in mitochondria, which reduces the level of reactive oxygen species generation and affects the content of stress proteins under normal and low-temperature exposure.

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