Beauvericin Decreases Cell Viability of Wheat

Abstract

Recently, beauvericin (BEA) has been recognized as an important toxic compound synthesized by several Fusarium strains, infecting maize, wheat, and rice, worldwide. The effects of BEA on mammalian cells have been studied; however, its effects on the function of host plant cells are largely unknown. The purpose of our work was to assess whether BEA can affect the root and leaf cells of wheat cultivar (cv.) 'Arina' seedlings, using a cytotoxicity assay and fluorescence microscopy. Toxigenicity during wheat germination was higher in BEA-treated wheat seedlings than in non-treated seedlings (control). Leaf primordial, situated at the base and the tips of treated leaves, were more affected by BEA compared to the control when assayed in medium for cell viability measured by luminescent equipment. BEA-Treated plant cells secrete adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the extracellular matrix and invoke more luminescence by luciferase than the non-treated seedlings. Our results were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy following '4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole' (DAPI) staining and by confocal microscopy. In addition, the bioluminescent protein luciferase was observed in the intracellular space indicating presence of ATP. The incidence of nuclear fragmentation increased significantly in cells of seedlings treated with BEA at 40 microM concentration implying that the intracellular phytotoxin BEA plays an important role, possibly as a mediator in cell-death signalling.

Histology-guided high-resolution AP-SMALDI mass spectrometry imaging of wheat-Fusarium graminearum interaction at the root–shoot junction

“…However, studies on the synergistic interaction of co-occurring mycotoxins have demonstrated that mixtures of DON with EN B or BEA are more cytotoxic on mammalian cells than the DON toxin alone [ 30 ]. EN B is an emerging harmful toxin with impact on human and animal health as it can cause apoptosis and reduction of cell viability [ 31 ], while BEA is known to have toxic effects on germinating wheat [ 32 ].…”

A Novel and Potentially Multifaceted Dehydroascorbate Reductase Increasing the Antioxidant Systems is Induced by Beauvericin in Tomato

“…Due to its cytotoxicity, it has been employed in the treatment of malignant cells [6], as an antibacterial [7], antifungal [8], insecticidal, and nematocidal molecule [9]. The use of BEA for crop management has to be carefully evaluated because it can induce cell death and alteration of the antioxidant defense system in plants, such as the ascorbate-glutathione pathway [10,11]. This defense system is composed by enzymes such as the ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), the monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4), the dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), and the glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), and compounds, such as ascorbate (ASC), dehydroascorbate (DHA), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione.…”

Impact of beauvericin on membrane properties of young initial leaves of maize with different susceptibility to Fusarium

“…BEA is a cyclic hexadepsipeptide produced by various phytopathogenic Fusarium species (Moretti et al 1995) with apoptotic properties (Ojcius et al 1991, Paciolla et al 2004) influencing membrane properties of root cells (Lemmens et al 1997, Pavlovkin et al 2006, Santini et al 2008, Šrobárová et al 2009). …”