Enhanced lipoxygenase activity is involved in barley root tip swelling induced by cadmium, auxin or hydrogen peroxide

- Cd-, IAA- or H2O2-short-term treatments induced similar morphogenic responses in root.
- LOX inhibitors efficiently inhibited stress-induced LOX activity and root swelling.
- Scavenger of hydroperoxides severely inhibited the development of root swelling.

Lipoxygenases (EC 1.13.11.12) catalyse the formation of hydroperoxy derivates by oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. They act as signal molecules, triggering several developmental processes and defence responses under stress conditions. Incubation of Cd-, IAA- or H2O2-short-term treated seedlings in the presence of LOX inhibitors efficiently inhibited both Cd-, IAA- or H2O2-induced LOX activity and root swelling in a concentration dependent manner, suggesting a key role of LOX or LOX signalling pathway in radial expansion of root cells. Application of antioxidants (ascorbate or N-acetyl cysteine) to the treated seedlings at low 2 mM concentration did not affect the Cd-, IAA- or H2O2-induced LOX activity and root swelling. At higher, 10 mM concentration antioxidants markedly inhibited root growth, significantly increased the activity of LOX and evoked the radial expansion of root cells leading to root swelling with well developed root hairs already in control roots. By contrast, the lipophilic antioxidant trolox, a scavenger of hydroperoxides, severely inhibited the development of Cd-, IAA- or H2O2-induced root swelling, indicating that not directly LOX, but probably oxylipins, products of LOX pathway, are involved in the induction of root swelling in barley root tip. The results of this study suggest a strong connection between abiotic stress-induced alteration in redox and hormone status caused root growth inhibition and LOX pathway mediated radial expansion of root tip cells.