Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Date of Award

12-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Michael Persans

Second Advisor

Dr. Hudson DeYoe

Third Advisor

Dr. Jonathan Lieman

Abstract

Physiological and enzymatic analysis indicated that the non-accumulator A. thaliana showed an oxidative stress response in all assays except for protein carbonylation. Other non-accumulator plant species showed a significant difference in oxidative stress response in the TBARS assay; however, for some assays no stress response was evident. The hyperaccumulator plant species showed no significant difference in oxidative stress as indicated by the all of the assays with the exception of T. montanum var. montanum which showed an oxidative stress response in the SOD assay. Basal catalase enzyme activity was notably higher in the hyperaccumulators T. montanum var. montanum and T. montanum var. siskiyouense as compared to the non-accumulator A. thaliana. Results of the oxidative stress assays were also compared to the levels of nickel present in the various plant species. These experiments show that hyperaccumulators may have additional mechanisms that allow resistance to oxidative stress more effectively than non-accumulators.

Comments

Copyright 2010 Fritzie Joy Into. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/investigating-heavy-metal-accumulation-oxidative/docview/853095787/se-2?accountid=7119

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American

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