Activation of genes encoding mitochondrial proteins involved in alternative and uncoupled respiration of tomato plants treated with low temperature and reactive oxygen species

Using Real-time PCR, the regulation of gene expression for proteins involved in alternative and uncoupled respiration in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings and cell culture was studied. The temperature of 4°C activated transcription of these genes. The effect of low temperature on the activities of a number of enzymes involved in oxidative metabolism of seedlings and cultivated cells was detected by spec-trophotometric methods. When oxidative stress in tomato cell culture was created by treatments with hydrogen peroxide and antimycin A, it was established that the mRNA levels of the alternative oxidase, the uncoupling protein, and the ATP/ADP antiporter were controlled by ROS, and this may be the mechanism of “free” oxidation induction during cold stress adaptation.