Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE
(ISSN 1009-3095, Monthly)

2005   Vol. 6B   No. 2   p.96-99

Gama-aminobutyric acid accumulation in Elsholtzia splendens in response to copper toxicity

YANG Xiao-e^*, PENG Hong-yun^*, TIAN Sheng-ke

(Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment, Remediation and Ecosystem Health, School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China)
^*E-mail: xyang@zju.edu.cn; penghongyun@zju.edu.cn
Received Sept. 30, 2004; revision accepted Nov. 30, 2004

Abstract: A solution with different Cu supply levels was cultured to investigate gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation in Elsholtzia splendens, a native Chinese Cu-tolerant and accumulating plant species. Increasing Cu from 0.25 to 500 μmol/L significantly enhanced levels of GABA and histidine (His), but considerably decreased levels of aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) in the leaves. The leaf Asp level negatively correlated with leaf Cu level, while leaf GABA level positively correlated with leaf Cu level. The leaf Glu level negatively correlated with leaf GABA level in Elsholtzia splendens. The depletion of leaf Glu may be related to the enhanced synthesis of leaf GABA under Cu stress.

Key words: Accumulation, Copper toxicity, Elsholtzia splendens, Gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
doi:10.1631/jzus.2005.B0096             CLC number: X53