A Study of the Effect of Sodium-μ2-Dithiosulphate-Tetranitrosyl Diferrate Tetrahydrate on the Structure of Mitochondrial Membranes Isolated from Epicotyls of Pea Seedlings

Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule of plants under stressful conditions; this molecule can also have a toxic effect. A study of the dose-dependent effect of the nitric oxide donor sodium-μ2-dithiosulphate-tetranitrosyl diferrate tetrahydrate on the structural state of mitochondrial membranes of epicotyles of pea seedlings has been carried out. Upon treating mitochondria with this drug at a concentration of 10^–8 M, thermally induced structural transitions were observed at temperatures from 15°C to 21°C and from 30°C to 36°C in lipid regions, and at temperatures from 12°C to 15°C and from 27°C to 33°C in the protein regions of the membranes. The drug showed antioxidant properties in the lipid regions of the membranes, leading to the accumulation of long unsaturated fatty acids. Treatment of mitochondria with sodium-μ2-dithiosulphate-tetranitrosyl diferrate tetrahydrate at a dose of 10^–4 M caused a significant increase in the level of lipid peroxidation and the fluidity of the lipid phase of membranes.