The β-glucosidase activity in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh seedlings under exposure to ionizing radiation

Abstract

The effect of X-ray radiation in doses of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 Gy on the activity of β-glucosidase in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings has been investigated. Treated seedlings were examined two hours (3-day-old seedlings) and ten days (13-day-old seedlings) after the irradiation. Untreated seedlings of the same age were used as control samples. It was shown that X-ray radiation changed the β-glucosidase activity in A. thaliana seedlings. At two hours after X-ray radiation of different doses β-glucosidase activity demonstrated more than two-fold increase compared to control in 3-day-old seedlings. The most reactive was the dose of 8 Gy. Its effect lasted for ten days after irradiation. β-glucosidase activity of 13-day-old seedlings irradiated by this dose was 1.5 times higher than that of the control samples. It is assumed that β-glucosidase as hydrolyzing ferment catalyzes hydrolytic processes of cell regeneration after irradiation with X-rays. A role of the of β-glucosidase activity, as a molecular marker of ionizing radiation impact on A. thaliana seedlings is considered.