Study of the Effect of Sodium-μ2-Dithiosulphate-Tetranitrosyl Diferrate Tetrahydrate on the Structure of Mitochondrial Membranes Isolated from Epicotyls of Pea Seedlings

Abstract

Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule of plants under stressful conditions, and also this molecule can have a toxic effect. This study focused on investigation of a dose-dependent effect of the nitric oxide donor, sodiumμ2-dithiosulphate-tetranitrosyl diferrate tetrahydrate, on the structural state of mitochondrial membranes of epicotyls of pea seedlings. Treatment of mitochondria with 10–8 M of this drug led to thermo-induced structural transitions within the temperature range from 15°C to 21°C and from 30°C to 36°C in the lipid regions, and within the temperature range from 12°C to 15°C and from 27°С to 33°С in preprotein regions of membranes. In the lipid regions of the membranes, the compound exhibited antioxidant activity, leading to accumulation of long unsaturated fatty acids. Treatment of mitochondria with 10–4 M sodium-μ2-dithiosulphatetetranitrosyl diferrate tetrahydrate most likely led to a significant increase of the lipid peroxidation level and membrane lipid phase fluidity.