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Biotic and heavy metal stress response in plants: evidence for common signals
Author(s) -
Mithöfer Axel,
Schulze Birgit,
Boland Wilhelm
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.04.011
Subject(s) - abiotic component , reactive oxygen species , biotic stress , abiotic stress , chemistry , oxidative stress , endogeny , heavy metals , enzyme , biotic component , defence mechanisms , biochemistry , biology , botany , ecology , environmental chemistry , gene
In higher plants, biotic stress (e.g., herbivore or pathogen attack) as well as abiotic stress (in particular heavy metals) often induce the synthesis and accumulation of the same defense‐related secondary metabolites. This well‐known finding still awaits an explanation regarding the common features of both stress types. In this study, a mechanism is proposed that links reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation with lipid oxidation processes, ultimately resulting in the formation of similar, highly active signalling compounds. The generation of ROS is a common event in both heavy metal treatment and biotic stress although it can depend on quite different, enzymatic and non‐enzymatic reactions. Regardless, ROS are involved in the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids which initiate the formation of oxylipins, a highly variable class of lipid‐derived compounds in plants. Oxylipins represent new endogenous signals involved in biotic‐ and abiotic‐induced stress responses.