Aluminum-induced cell wall peroxidase activity and lignin synthesis are differentially regulated by jasmonate and nitric oxide.

Cassia tora is an annual legume and cultivated as a traditional medicinal herb for multiple therapies including regulation of blood pressure and blood lipid. Because of naturally occurring acidic soils in southeastern China, this plant species may possess strategies for tolerance to low pH and aluminum toxicity. In the search for the regulatory basis of biochemical response to Al, cell wall-bound peroxidases, including lignin-generated peroxidases and NADH oxidases, were investigated in the root tips of C. tora. Activities of both types of peroxidases significantly increased with Al concentrations. Analysis with native PAGE also demonstrated the strong induction of cell wall peroxidases by Al. The Al-induced increasing activities of peroxidases were closely correlated with lignin accumulation and H 2O 2 production. The biochemical effect of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) and methyl jasmonic acid (MJ) was examined to investigate signal properties and lignin synthesis under Al stress. Application of MJ at 10 microM promoted root sensitivity to Al by activating apoplastic peroxidase activity and accumulating H 2O 2 and lignin, whereas the opposite action was found for NO. The sensitivity of apoplastic peroxidases under Al stress was associated with the cross-talk of MJ and NO signals. The analysis reveals that the activity of lipoxygenase (an enzyme for MJ biosynthesis), with its transcripts increased in Al-exposed roots, was depressed by NO exposure. The effect of MJ on intracellular NO production was also investigated. It is shown that NO staining with 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate fluorescence was intensified by Al but was suppressed by MJ. These results suggest that NO and MJ may interplay in signaling the cell wall peroxidase activity and lignin synthesis in the roots exposed to Al.