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Effect of Low Molecular Weight Chitosan on Cells of Epidermis from Pea Leaves

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Abstract

The effect of low molecular weight chitosans with a molecular weight (MW) of 5, 6, 10, 25, and 45 kDa and a deacetylation degree (DD) of 85–99% obtained by chemical depolymerization and enzymatic hydrolysis on the cells of the epidermis of pea leaves was analyzed. Low molecular weight chitosans induced damage to guard cells' plasma membrane, which was estimated from the change in its permeability for the fluorescent dye propidium iodide, and programmed death of epidermal cells determined from the destruction of cell nuclei. These effects are similar to those of commercial high molecular weight chitosan with an MW of 290 kDa and a DD of 90%, which was manifested at higher concentrations than with low molecular weight chitosan. The destructive effect of chitosan on the cells was predominantly DD-dependent, and it was not produced at concentrations up to 10 μg/mL inclusive. Low molecular weight chitosan enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species in the epidermis, which was detected by monitoring the fluorescence of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein. The antioxidants nitroblue tetrazolium and propyl gallate inhibited this process, while Н2О2 accelerated it.

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Funding

The obtainment and analysis of low molecular weight chitosans was partially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 20-016-00205. The work was supported by the Federal Budget, the CITIS registration no. АААА-А16-116021660081-0.

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Correspondence to D. B. Kiselevsky.

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This article contains no studies carried out with either animals or plants as objects.

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Kiselevsky ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6050-2940

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Translated by Mikhail Bibov

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Kiselevsky, D.B., Shagdarova, B.T., Varlamov, V.P. et al. Effect of Low Molecular Weight Chitosan on Cells of Epidermis from Pea Leaves. Moscow Univ. Biol.Sci. Bull. 76, 14–19 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0096392521010016

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