Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Treatment for Prevention of Mitochondrial Damage in Plants

Abstract

Mitochondrial decay inflicted by oxidative stress in brain cells is the primary cause of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and strokes. Oxidative stress is an imbalance of oxygen caused by disproportional amounts of pro-oxidants and antioxidants, which regulate the consumption of radical oxygen species (ROS). Overproduction of ROS disrupts cell structure of lipids, membranes, proteins, DNA, and also attacks mitochondria. The naturally slow rate of mitochondrial genesis is harmful to cells undergoing oxidative stress, as mitochondria cannot reproduce fast enough to replenish the necessary mitochondria count in the cell, leading to cell death. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a vitamin that reduces ROS while accelerating mitochondrial growth, therefore making it a factor in resisting damage from oxidative stress. This experiment introduced antioxidant PQQ into Wisconsin Fast Plants undergoing oxidative stress. Plants were grown in varying concentrations of PQQ solution and exposed to oxidative stress once mature. The 0.1% PQQ solution led to the best plant survival, decaying at a slower rate. However, all plants watered with the vitamin did not grow as tall as the control. Therefore, PQQ intake at 0.1 percent concentration allows an extended lifespan for Wisconsin Fast Plants when exposed to oxidative stress, but the organism will be compromised in overall height.