24-Epibrassinolide as a Modifier of Antioxidant Activities and Membrane Properties of Wheat Cells in Zearalenone Stress Conditions

The mechanism of action of brassinosteroids (BRs) in plant cells under stress has not been fully explained, despite ample evidence of their protective effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of physicochemical properties of cell membranes during an interaction with BRs under stress conditions induced by a mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA). Experiments were performed in in vitro cultures of wheat cells obtained from immature embryos of tolerant and sensitive genotypes. ZEA added to media (30 mu M) accumulated in greater amounts in the cells of sensitive wheat, contrary to BRs, which accumulated in greater amounts by the tolerant genotype when added to media at 0.1 mu M. Incorporation of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) stimulated synthesis of casta- and homocastasterone, that is, endogenous BRs present in wheat cells, and enhanced the content of homocastasterone. When the cultures were supplemented with the mixture of ZEA and EBR, castasterone synthesis was stimulated to a higher degree in cells of the sensitive plant. EBR and ZEA added separately activated antioxidant enzyme systems in both genotypes but with preference for the sensitive one. In the cells treated with ZEA+EBR, the activation was close to that observed for EBR alone. The study discussed also the role of membrane permeability, electrokinetic potential changes, and structural properties of native (plasmalemma) and model (DOPC) monolayers in the mechanism of EBR-induced protection, including the possibility of replacing ZEA absorbed in the membrane lipid layers by BR molecules, independently of the activation of the antioxidant system.