Abstract

Drought induced oxidative stress triggers anti-oxidative system in cell to minimize oxidative damage where catalase plays vital role to neutralize H₂O₂. In this work, catalase activity was evaluated to examine the role of catalase in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings under drought stress. As compared to control, catalase activity increased with decreasing soil moisture where 219% higher activity were recorded at 10% soil moisture of field capacity (FC) compared to control (75% FC), but was reduced below 10% FC. Four different catalase isozymes that specifically accumulated in barley leaves in response to drought (10% FC) which nominated catalase, particularly CAT4 and CAT2, as key players for H₂O₂ scavenging were identified. However, for future study, one catalase was purified from barley leaves with an apparent molecular weight of 54 kDA and specific activity of 871.32 µmol min-1 mg-1 protein. Therefore, in this study, it was found that four CAT isozymes in barley leaf under drought, and the purified catalase needs characterization at molecular level for further biotechnical use. 

Key words: Catalase, isozymes, barley, drought, purification.