Mitochondria play an important role in plant growth and development, cooperating with the endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus. Gadolinium, one of the rare earth elements, is an inhibitor of stretch-activated calcium channels located on the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane and has no effect on nuclear calcium variation in plant cells. We analyzed the effects of Gd3+ on mitochondria function by monitoring mitochondrial swelling, changes of membrane fluidity, and transmembrane potential collapse and by observing mitochondrial ultrastructure. We found that high concentration of Gd3+ induces rice mitochondrial dysfunction through mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). The protection of DTT and EDTA demonstrate that Gd3+ blocks the inner membrane ion channel through thiol chelation.

CoMoO 4 nanoscale materials were synthesized by a facile coprecipitation method and annealed at different temperatures with significant alteration of morphologies. The obtained CoMoO 4 materials were characterized by X ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Cerium has been widely used as fertilizer and feed additives in agriculture, but it might finally impair human health by food chain accumulation with its dosage increased in environmental and crops samples. To resolve the conflict, we investigated the effects of Ce(III) on isolated rice mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) by examining mitochondrial swelling, transmembrane potential, membrane fluidity with spectroscopy, and observing the mitochondrial ultrastructure, meanwhile, the interaction site(s) and mechanism between Ce(III) and mitochondria were also studied. The results showed that the low level of Ce(III) had little effect on rice MPT, however, the higher level of Ce(III) could induce rice MPT, and the thiol (-SH) groups of membrane proteins (defined as "S" site) matched by Ce(III)-triggered rice MPT pore opening.

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