Ecdysteroids (ECs) are steroid hormones originally found in the animal kingdom where they function as insect molting hormones. Interestingly, a relatively high number of these substances can also be formed in plant cells. Moreover, ECs have certain regulatory effects on plant physiology, but their role in plants still requires further study. One of the main aims of the present study was to verify a hypothesis that fenarimol, an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of ECs in the animal kingdom, also affects the content of endogenous ECs in plants using winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. as a model plant. The levels of endogenous ECs in winter wheat, including the estimation of their changes during a course of different temperature treatments, have been determined using a sensitive analytical method based on UHPLC-MS/MS. Under our experimental conditions, four substances of EC character were detected in the tissue of interest in amounts ranging from less than 1 to over 200 pg·g-1 FW: 20-hydroxyecdysone, polypodine B, turkesterone, and isovitexirone. Among them, turkesterone was observed to be the most abundant EC and accumulated mainly in the crowns and leaves of wheat. Importantly, the level of ECs was observed to be dependent on the age of the plants, as well as on growth conditions (especially temperature). Fenarimol, an inhibitor of a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, was shown to significantly decrease the level of naturally occurring ECs in experimental plants, which may indicate its potential use in studies related to the biosynthesis and physiological function of these substances in plants.
- Klíčová slova
- cold acclimation, deacclimation, ecdysteroids, fenarimol, plant development, vernalization, winter wheat,
- MeSH
- biologické přípravky chemie metabolismus MeSH
- chromatografie kapalinová metody MeSH
- ekdysteroidy biosyntéza chemie MeSH
- fungicidy průmyslové farmakologie MeSH
- listy rostlin účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- molekulární struktura MeSH
- pšenice růst a vývoj metabolismus MeSH
- pyrimidiny farmakologie MeSH
- tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie metody MeSH
- teplota MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- biologické přípravky MeSH
- ekdysteroidy MeSH
- fenarimol MeSH Prohlížeč
- fungicidy průmyslové MeSH
- pyrimidiny MeSH
The present review summarises current knowledge of phytoecdysteroids' biosynthesis, distribution within plants, biological importance and relations to plant hormones. Plant ecdysteroids (phytoecdysteroids) are natural polyhydroxylated compounds that have a four-ringed skeleton, usually composed of either 27 carbon atoms or 28-29 carbon atoms (biosynthetically derived from cholesterol or other plant sterols, respectively). Their physiological roles in plants have not yet been confirmed and their occurrence is not universal. Nevertheless, they are present at high concentrations in various plant species, including commonly consumed vegetables, and have a broad spectrum of pharmacological and medicinal properties in mammals, including hepatoprotective and hypoglycaemic effects, and anabolic effects on skeletal muscle, without androgenic side-effects. Furthermore, phytoecdysteroids can enhance stress resistance by promoting vitality and enhancing physical performance; thus, they are considered adaptogens. This review summarises current knowledge of phytoecdysteroids' biosynthesis, distribution within plants, biological importance and relations to plant hormones.
- Klíčová slova
- 20-Hydroxyecdysone, Ecdysteroids, Phytoecdysteroids, Plant hormones, Signalling molecules,
- MeSH
- ekdysteroidy biosyntéza MeSH
- regulátory růstu rostlin metabolismus MeSH
- rostliny metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Názvy látek
- ekdysteroidy MeSH
- regulátory růstu rostlin MeSH
