산성비의 주요 성분인 So$_2$가 peroxidase 활성에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 다양한 농도의 $Na_2$SO$_3$를 포함한 배지에서 벼(Oryza sativa) seedling을 배양하였다. $Na_2$SO$_3$는 볍씨의 발아를 억제시켰으며, 볍씨의 발아율을 50%감소시키는데 필요한 $Na_2$SO$_3$의 농도가 pH 7에서는 300$mu extrm{g}$/ml, PH5에서는 8$mu extrm{g}$/ml 이었으나, pH 3에서는 2$mu extrm{g}$/ml에 불과하였다. $Na_2$SO$_3$에 의한 peroxidase의 활성변화를 조사했을 때 2$mu extrm{g}$/ml $Na_2$SO$_3$(pH 3)에 의하여 효소활성이 약 4배 증가하였고, 8$mu extrm{g}$/ml $Na_2$SO$_3$(pH 5)에 의하여 효소활성이 약 8배 증가하였다. 또한 환경오염원의 주요성분인 Cd과 Pb이 벼 peroxidase활성과 엽록소 함량에 미치는 효과를 조사하였다. 0.03mM Cd처리군의 경우 peroxidase활성이 3.9배 증가하였으나 엽록소 함량은 대조군의 63%로 감소하였다. 0.04mM Pb처리군의 경우 2.5배의 peroxidase 활성증가를 보였으나 엽록소 함량은 대조군의 72%로 감소하였다. 뿐만 아니라 세포내에서 활성산소의 생성을 유도함으로써 산화적 스트레스를 유발하는 물질인 Cu와 Fe이 peroxidase활성에 미치는 효과를 살펴보았다. 0.5mM CuSO$_4$와 0.5mM FeS0$_4$에 의하여 벼 Peroxidase 활성은 각각 57%와 65%씩 감소하였다. 그러나 라디칼 소거제인 ethanol에 의하여 Cu와 Fe에 의한 활성억제는 거의 완전하게 보호되었다. 이에 비해 dimethyl sulfoxide, mannitol, thiourea와 histidine은 Cu와 Fe에 의한 활성억제에 대하여 서로 다른 라디칼 소거효과를 나타냈다.
In order to examine the effect of SO$_2$, which is the major component of acid rain, on the peroxidase activity, rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings were grown on the media containing various concentrations of Na$_2$SO$_3$. Na$_2$SO$_3$ concentrations needed for the 50% inhibition of rice seed germination were determined to be 300$mu extrm{g}$/ml at pH 7, 8$mu extrm{g}$/ml at pH 5 and 2$mu extrm{g}$/ml at pH 3. Notably, about 8 fold and 4 fold increase of the specific activity of the enzyme were observed with the seedlings treated with 8$mu extrm{g}$/ml Na$_2$SO$_3$ at pH 5 and 2$mu extrm{g}$/ml Na$_2$SO$_3$ at pH 3, respectively. The effects of Cd and Pb on the peroxidase activities and chlorophyll contents were also examined. About 3.9 fold higher peroxidase activities were found at 0.03mM Cd, and the chlorophyll contents were reduced to 63% of the control seedlings. At 0.04mM Pb, 2.5 fold higher enzyme activities were found and the chlorophyll contents were reduced to 72%. Therefore, the increases of rice peroxidase activities might be involved in the defense mechanism of the cell against various environmental stresses such as Na$_2$SO$_3$, Cd and Pb. The effects of Cu and Fe, which are the inducers of oxidative stresses by the generations of reactive oxygen species, on the peroxidase activities were also investigated. About 57% and 65% activity losses were found at 0.5mM CuSO$_4$ and 0.5mM FeSO$_4$, respectively, and radical scavenger ethanol almost completely protected both inactivations. However, dimethyl sulfoxide, mannitol, thiourea and histidine showed different radical scavenging effects one another against Cu and Fe inactivation.
