Abstract
Studies on heavy metal underline the role of thiols in plants and attribute tolerance to metal binding. The thiol and peroxiredoxins (Prx) contents and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX) activity were analyzed in the cotyledons and embryo of pea (Pisum sativum L.) germinating seeds exposed to toxic Cd concentration. The 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin (2Cys-Prx) level as well as the non-protein thiol (-SHNP) pool increased in both tissues treated with Cd compared to the control. An oxidized dimer of 2Cys-Prx was resolved in the presence of Cd ions. The obtained results suggest that Prx constitute a main key target in Cd toxicity. Despite of the decrease in GPOX activity due to the generation of an intracellular oxidative stress, a protective action via increasing Prx expression on thiols is possible to improve the redox status.