Abstract:In order to understand the regulatory mechanism of proline metabolism at the cellular level, Nitraria tangutorum Bobr. callus was used to investigate the effects of exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment on the proline content and the activities of proline-related metabolism enzymes. After treatment with 2 and 10 μmol·L-1 H2O2 for 24 h, proline content was about 112% and 92% of the control value in N.tangutorum Bobr. callus, respectively; at 72 h treatment, the amount of proline increased about 41% and 19% in comparison with the control. Analysis of enzyme activities showed that exogenous H2O2 induced remarkable decrease in proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) activity and significant increase in glutamyl kinase (GK) activity, but no significant changes in ornithine aminotransferase activity. In addition, the endogenous H2O2 level was increased in exogenous H2O2 treated callus. In conclusion, our results indicated that exogenous H2O2 treatment resulted in the significant increase of endogenous H2O2 content in N.tangutorum Bobr. callus. Here it was also indicated that H2O2 induced proline accumulation, which was associated with the reduction of ProDH activity and the elevation of GK activity in N.tangutorum Bobr. callus.