Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Photo-Induced Cross-Linking of Unmodified Proteins PICUP Applied to Amyloidogenic Peptides
Published on: January 12, 2009
Polyamines alleviate the inhibitory effect of the DNA cross-linking agent mitomycin C on root growth
Hidenori Tanaka1, Kazuya Takeda2, Akihiro Imai1,2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hiroshima Institute of Technology , Hiroshima , Japan.
Abstract:
Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) are ubiquitously present in various types of cells of living organisms. They are involved in a variety of cellular processes, including cell proliferation and cell differentiation, and are required for abiotic stress tolerances in plants. However, it is still not understood whether polyamines are involved in the plant growth inhibition caused by DNA-damaging agents. In this study, we examined the effects of polyamines on the inhibition of plant root growth and gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana treated with mitomycin C (MMC), a genotoxic agent that induces DNA interstrand crosslinks. We found that polyamines alleviated the inhibitory effect caused by MMC on root growth. In addition, we also found that polyamines alleviated the increased expression of AtBRCA1 and AtRAD51 genes induced by MMC treatment. Our study provides the first evidence that polyamines contribute to tolerance against plant-growth inhibition caused by a DNA-damaging chemical.
Related Concept Videos
Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
Crossing Over
The homologous pairs of sister chromosomes—one from the maternal and one from the paternal genome—then begin to align alongside each other lengthwise, matching corresponding DNA positions in a process...
Crossing Over
Meristems and Plant Growth
Monohybrid Crosses

