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Physiological and proteomic responses of tobacco seedlings exposed to silver nanoparticles

Since silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the dominating nanomaterial in consumer products, there is a growing concern about their impact on the environment. Although numerous studies on the effects of AgNPs on living organisms have been conducted, interaction of AgNPs with plants is still not fully clarified. To reveal the plant mechanisms activated after exposure to AgNPs and to differentiate between effects specific for nanoparticle and ionic silver, we investigated physiological and proteomic changes in seedlings of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) after 30 day- exposure to commercial AgNPs and AgNO3. The higher Ag content was measured in seedlings exposed to AgNPs than to AgNO3. The higher Ag content was measured in seedlings exposed to AgNPs than to AgNO3 of the same concentration. However, obtained results on oxidative stress parameters revealed that in general higher toxicity was recorded in AgNO3-treated seedlings compared to those exposed to nanosilver. The presence of silver in the form of nanoparticles was confirmed in the root cells, which may explain the lower toxicity of AgNPs. Proteomic study showed that both AgNPs and AgNO3 can affect photosynthesis. Moreover, majority of the proteins involved in the primary metabolism were up-regulated after both types of treatments, indicating that enhanced energy production, which can be used to reinforce defensive mechanisms, enables plants to cope with silver-induced toxicity.

silver nanoparticles ; Nicotiana tabacum ; phytotoxicity ; proteomics

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