Dmitriev A.P.

Sygnal role of nitric oxide in plants

Cytology and Genetics 2004, v 38, number 4, 67-75

Discovery of nitric oxide (NO^.) as a key endogenous molecule, which regulates metabolism among very distantly related organisms, stimulated intensive research related to its multiple functions in plants. NO^. exerts its cellular effects as toxic agent, metabolism regulator, second messenger during elicitation of different defense responses. It can induce various processes in plants, including programmed cell death, stomatal closure, seed germination and root development. Currently, elucidation of NO^. signaling role in regulation of cellular responses is a «hot spot» of modern cell biology.