Disturbances in production of progesterone and their implications in plant studies

0446380 - ÚEB 2016 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Janeczko, A. - Oklešťková, Jana - Novák, Ondřej - Sniegowska-Swierk, K. - Snaczke, Z. - Pociecha, E.
Disturbances in production of progesterone and their implications in plant studies.
Steroids. Roč. 96, APR 2015 (2015), s. 153-163. ISSN 0039-128X. E-ISSN 1878-5867
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LO1204; GA MŠMT LK21306
Institutional support: RVO:61389030
Keywords : Drought * Mifepristone * Plant development
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 2.513, year: 2015

Progesterone is a mammalian hormone that has also been discovered in plants but its physiological function in plants is not explained. Experiments using inhibitors of progesterone synthesis and binding would be useful in studies on the significance of this compound in plants. Until now, trilostane and mifepristone have been used in medical sciences as progesterone biosynthesis and binding inhibitors, respectively. We tested these synthetic steroids for the first time in plants and found that they reduced the content of progesterone in wheat. The aim of further experiments was to answer whether the potential disturbances in the production/binding of progesterone, influence resistance to environmental stress (drought) and the development of wheat. Inhibitors and progesterone were applied to plants via roots in a concentration of 0.25-0.5 mg/l water. Both inhibitors lowered the activity of CO2 binding enzyme (Rubisco) in wheat exposed to drought stress and trilostane additionally lowered the chlorophyll content. However, trilostane-treated plants were rescued by treatment with exogenous progesterone. The inhibitors also modulated the development of winter wheat, which indicated the significance of steroid regulators and their receptors in this process. In this study, in addition to progesterone and its inhibitors, brassinosteroid (24-epibrassinolide) and an inhibitor of biosynthesis of brassinosteroids were also applied. Mirepristone inhibited the generative development of wheat (like 24-epibrassinolide), while trilostane (like progesterone and an inhibitor of biosynthesis of brassinosteroids) stimulated the development. We propose a model of steroid-induced regulation of the development of winter wheat, where brassinosteroids act as inhibitors of generative development, while progesterone or other pregnane derivatives act as stimulators.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0248386