Impacts of size and shape of silver nanoparticles on Arabidopsis plant growth and gene expression.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used as antibacterial nanomaterials; however, the environmental impacts of AgNPs remain uncertain. In this study, Arabidopsis physiological responses and gene expression were investigated after exposure to 3 different morphologies of AgNPs. The triangular (47 ± 7 nm) and spherical (8 ± 2 nm) AgNPs exhibited the lowest and highest degrees of antimicrobial activity, respectively. The AgNP-induced phenotypic alterations in Arabidopsis were correlated with nanoparticle morphology and size, in which the decahedral AgNPs (45 ± 5 nm) induced the highest degree of root growth promotion (RGP); however, the spherical AgNPs exhibited no RGP and induced the highest levels of anthocyanin accumulation in Arabidopsis seedlings. The decahedral and spherical AgNPs induced the lowest and highest levels of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (CSD2) accumulation, respectively. Moreover, 3 morphologies of AgNPs induced protein accumulations including cell-division-cycle kinase 2 (CDC2), protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR), and fructose-1,6 bisphosphate aldolase (FBA). Regarding transcription, the AgNPs induced the gene expression of indoleacetic acid protein 8 (IAA8), 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED3), and dehydration-responsive RD22. Additional studies have shown that AgNPs antagonized the aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)-derived inhibition of root elongation in Arabidopsis seedlings, as well as reduced the expression of ACC synthase 7 (ACS7) and ACC oxidase 2 (ACO2), suggesting that AgNPs acted as inhibitors of ethylene (ET) perception and could interfere with ET biosynthesis. In conclusion, AgNPs induce ROS accumulation and root growth promotion in Arabidopsis. AgNPs activate Arabidopsis gene expression involved in cellular events, including cell proliferation, metabolism, and hormone signaling pathways.