Extremely rapid effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and N-acetylglucosamine on free-radical metabolism in cultured potato plant cells.

The effects of arachidonic and linoleic acids, separately and in co-operation with N-acetylglucosamine oligomers, on Solanum tuberosum plant suspension cell cultures were investigated in terms of the fluorescent oxygen-activated-species-sensitive dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. The inductors used triggered extremely rapid (within 2-10 min) generation of H(2)O(2) in the cells; the majority was expressed in cultures treated with combined polyunsaturated fatty acid and N-acetylglucosamine oligomers. The stimulation of free-radical generation may be related to defensive mechanisms modulating a plant-pathogenic-micro-organism interaction.