3-Нydroxypyridine Derivatives Reduce Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Pea Seedlings under Conditions of Water Deficiency

The possibility of using antioxidants-derivatives of 3-hydroxypyridine: N-acetylcysteinate 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine and carnitinate 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine as plant growth regulators investigated on the pea seedlings mitochondria (Pisum sativum L.) Flora 2 cultivar. The influence of water deficiency (WD) and 3-HP on the functional state of mitochondria was studied. Water deficiency activated lipid peroxidation and led to mitochondrial swelling. An increase in LPO intensity was associated with significant changes in the content of C₁₈ fatty acids The content of linoleic and linolenic acids in the mitochondrial membranes of seedlings decreased by 12.5 and 22.3%, respectively. There were also changes in the content of C₂₀ FA: the content of 20:2 ω6 and 20:1 ω9 decreased by almost 1.65 times and 1.5 times, respectively. The swelling of mitochondria, probably, resulted in a partial loss of cytochrome C from the intermembrane space of mitochondria into the cytosol, which led to a decrease in the electron transport rates at the end section of the respiratory chain. The treatment of pea seeds with antioxidants led to the prevention of lipid peroxidation, the prevention changes in the composition of FAs membranes and mitochondrial morphology and also restored the rate of electron transport at the end section of the respiratory chain of these organelles. By preventing lipid peroxidation, the drugs helped maintain the functional state of mitochondria under WD conditions, which probably increased the resistance of pea seedlings to stress.