Deregulated copper transport affects Arabidopsis development especially in the absence of environmental cycles

Identification and characterization of a novel copper transporter gene family TaCT1 in common wheat

Copper is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development, and copper transporter plays a pivotal role for keeping copper homeostasis. However, little is known about copper transporters in wheat. Here, we report a novel copper transporter gene family, TaCT1, in common wheat. Three TaCT1 homoeologous genes were isolated and assigned to group 5 chromosomes. Each of the TaCT1 genes (TaCT1-5A, -5B or -5D) possesses 12 transmembrane domains. TaCT1 genes exhibited higher transcript levels in leaf than in root, culm and spikelet. Excess copper down-regulated the transcript levels of TaCT1 and copper deficiency-induced TaCT1 expression. Subcellular experiments localized the TaCT1 to the Golgi apparatus. Yeast expression experiments and virus-induced gene silencing analysis indicated that the TaCT1 functioned in copper transport. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that three amino acid residues, Met(35), Met(38) and Cys(365), are required for TaCT1 function. Phylogenetic and functional analyses suggested that homologous genes shared high similarity with TaCT1 may exist exclusively in monocot plants. Our work reveals a novel wheat gene family encoding major facilitator superfamily (MFS)-type copper transporters, and provides evidence for their functional involvement in promoting copper uptake and keeping copper homeostasis in common wheat.

Iron around the clock

Carbon assimilation, a key determinant of plant biomass production, is under circadian regulation. Light and temperature are major inputs of the plant clock that control various daily rhythms. Such rhythms confer adaptive advantages to the organisms by adjusting their metabolism in anticipation of environmental fluctuations. The relationship between the circadian clock and nutrition extends far beyond the regulation of carbon assimilation as mineral nutrition, and specially iron homeostasis, is regulated through this mechanism. Conversely, iron status was identified as a new and important input regulating the central oscillator, raising the question of the nature of the Fe-dependent signal that modulates the period of the circadian clock. Several lines of evidence strongly suggest that fully developed and functional chloroplasts as well as early light signalling events, involving phytochromes, are essential to couple the clock to Fe responses. Nevertheless, the exact nature of the signal, which most probably involves unknown or not yet fully characterized elements of the chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signalling pathway, remains to be identified. Finally, this regulation may also involves epigenetic components.

Comparison of global responses to mild deficiency and excess copper levels in Arabidopsis seedlings

Copper is an essential micronutrient in higher plants, but it is toxic in excess. The fine adjustments required to fit copper nutritional demands for optimal growth are illustrated by the diverse, severe symptoms resulting from copper deficiency and excess. Here, a differential transcriptomic analysis was done between Arabidopsis thaliana plants suffering from mild copper deficiency and those with a slight copper excess. The effects on the genes encoding cuproproteins or copper homeostasis factors were included in a CuAt database, which was organised to collect additional information and connections to other databases. The categories overrepresented under copper deficiency and copper excess conditions are discussed. Different members of the categories overrepresented under copper deficiency conditions were both dependent and independent of the general copper deficiency transcriptional regulator SPL7. The putative regulatory elements in the promoter of the copper deficiency overrepresented genes, particularly of the iron superoxide dismutase gene FSD1, were also analysed. A 65 base pair promoter fragment, with at least three GTAC sequences, was found to be not only characteristic of them all, but was responsible for most of the FSD1 copper-dependent regulations. Moreover, a new molecular marker for the slight excess copper nutritional status is proposed. Taken together, these data further contribute to characterise copper nutritional responses in higher plants.

The CTR/COPT-dependent copper uptake and SPL7-dependent copper deficiency responses are required for basal cadmium tolerance in A. thaliana

Copper (Cu) homeostasis in plants is maintained by at least two mechanisms: (1) the miRNA-dependent reallocation of intracellular Cu among major Cu-enzymes and important energy-related functions; (2) the regulation of the expression of Cu transporters including members of the CTR/COPT family. These events are controlled by the transcription factor SPL7 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Cadmium (Cd), on the other hand, is a non-essential and a highly toxic metal that interferes with homeostasis of essential elements by competing for cellular binding sites. Whether Cd affects Cu homeostasis in plants is unknown. We found that Cd stimulates Cu accumulation in roots of A. thaliana and increases mRNA expression of three plasma membrane-localized Cu uptake transporters, COPT1, COPT2 and COPT6. Further analysis of Cd sensitivity of single and triple copt1copt2copt6 mutants, and transgenic plants ectopically expressing COPT6 suggested that Cu uptake is an essential component of Cd resistance in A. thaliana. Analysis of the contribution of the SPL7-dependent pathway to Cd-induced expression of COPT1, COPT2 and COPT6 showed that it occurs, in part, through mimicking the SPL7-dependent transcriptional Cu deficiency response. This response also involves components of the Cu reallocation system, miRNA398, FSD1, CSD1 and CSD2. Furthermore, seedlings of the spl7-1 mutant accumulate up to 2-fold less Cu in roots than the wild-type, are hypersensitive to Cd, and are more sensitive to Cd than the triple copt1copt2copt6 mutant. Together these data show that exposure to excess Cd triggers SPL7-dependent Cu deficiency responses that include Cu uptake and reallocation that are required for basal Cd tolerance in A. thaliana.

Brachypodium distachyon as a model system for studies of copper transport in cereal crops

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient that performs a remarkable array of functions in plants including photosynthesis, cell wall remodeling, flowering, and seed set. Of the world's major cereal crops, wheat, barley, and oat are the most sensitive to Cu deficiency. Cu deficient soils include alkaline soils, which occupy approximately 30% of the world's arable lands, and organic soils that occupy an estimated 19% of arable land in Europe. We used Brachypodium distachyon (brachypodium) as a proxy for wheat and other grain cereals to initiate analyses of the molecular mechanisms underlying their increased susceptibility to Cu deficiency. In this report, we focus on members of the CTR/COPT family of Cu transporters because their homologs in A. thaliana are transcriptionally upregulated in Cu-limited conditions and are involved either in Cu uptake from soils into epidermal cells in the root, or long-distance transport and distribution of Cu in photosynthetic tissues. We found that of five COPT proteins in brachypodium, BdCOPT3, and BdCOPT4 localize to the plasma membrane and are transcriptionally upregulated in roots and leaves by Cu deficiency. We also found that BdCOPT3, BdCOPT4, and BdCOPT5 confer low affinity Cu transport, in contrast to their counterparts in A. thaliana that confer high affinity Cu transport. These data suggest that increased sensitivity to Cu deficiency in some grass species may arise from lower efficiency and, possibly, other properties of components of Cu uptake and tissue partitioning systems and reinforce the importance of using brachypodium as a model for the comprehensive analyses of Cu homeostasis in cereal crops.

Circadian life without micronutrients: effects of altered micronutrient supply on clock function in Arabidopsis

The plant circadian clock is formed by a number of interlocked feedback loops that control the expression of thousands of genes. Genetic and pharmacological approaches towards the study of the plant clock are routinely carried out on Murashige and Skoog growth medium, which is both Fe-replete and Cu-deficient. However, it has recently become clear that the plant clock responds to available iron (Fe) supply: circadian pace slows down under conditions of Fe deficiency; circadian period progressively shortens with increasing Fe supply. Here, we describe several growth media that may be used to study the effects of varying micronutrient supply on the circadian clock, in which deficiency in a given micronutrient are imposed by the addition of a specific chelator or, alternatively, by using EDTA-washed agar as gelling agent, thus minimizing micronutrient contamination.

Copper chelation and exogenous copper affect circadian clock phase resetting in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in vitro

Light stimulates specialized retinal ganglion cells to release glutamate (Glu) onto circadian clock neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Glu resets the phase of the SCN circadian clock by activating N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) causing either delays or advances in the clock phase, depending on early- or late-night stimulation, respectively. In addition, these Glu-induced phase shifts require tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptor activity. Previous studies show that copper (Cu) released at hippocampal synapses can inhibit NMDAR activity, and application of exogenous Cu likewise inhibits NMDAR activity. We investigated the effects of Cu in acute SCN brain slices prepared from C57BL/6Nhsd adult, male mice using treatments that decrease or increase available Cu levels in vitro and recorded neuronal activity on the following day. When bath-applied for 10 min at zeitgeber time (ZT) 16 (where ZT0=lights-on in the donor animal colony), the Cu-specific chelators tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) and bathocuproine disulfonate each induce ∼2.5-3-h phase delays in circadian neuronal activity rhythms, similarly to Glu-induced phase delays. Co-application of 10 μM CuCl2, but not 10 μM CoCl₂ blocks TTM-induced phase delays. Furthermore, TTM causes phase advances when applied at ZT23. At both application times, TTM-induced phase shifts are blocked by NMDA or TrkB receptor antagonists. Surprisingly, bath-application of 10 μM Cu alone also induces phase shifts in analogous experiments at ZT16 and ZT23. Inhibiting NMDAR does not block Cu-induced phase shifts. TrkB inhibition blocks Cu-induced phase delays but not phase advances. Thus, increasing and decreasing Cu availability appear to shift the SCN clock phase through different mechanisms, at least at the receptor level. We propose that Cu plays a role in the SCN circadian clock by modulating Glu signaling.

Bioavailability of silver nanoparticles and ions: from a chemical and biochemical perspective

Owing to their antimicrobial properties, silver nanoparticles (NPs) are the most commonly used engineered nanomaterial for use in a wide array of consumer and medical applications. Many discussions are currently ongoing as to whether or not exposure of silver NPs to the ecosystem (i.e. plants and animals) may be conceived as harmful or not. Metallic silver, if released into the environment, can undergo chemical and biochemical conversion which strongly influence its availability towards any biological system. During this process, in the presence of moisture, silver can be oxidized resulting in the release of silver ions. To date, it is still debatable as to whether any biological impact of nanosized silver is relative to either its size, or to its ionic constitution. The aim of this review therefore is to provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary overview--for biologists, chemists, toxicologists as well as physicists--regarding the production of silver NPs, its (as well as in their ionic form) chemical and biochemical behaviours towards/within a multitude of relative and realistic biological environments and also how such interactions may be correlated across a plethora of different biological organisms.

Arabidopsis copper transport protein COPT2 participates in the cross talk between iron deficiency responses and low-phosphate signaling

Copper and iron are essential micronutrients for most living organisms because they participate as cofactors in biological processes, including respiration, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress protection. In many eukaryotic organisms, including yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammals, copper and iron homeostases are highly interconnected; yet, such interdependence is not well established in higher plants. Here, we propose that COPT2, a high-affinity copper transport protein, functions under copper and iron deficiencies in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). COPT2 is a plasma membrane protein that functions in copper acquisition and distribution. Characterization of the COPT2 expression pattern indicates a synergic response to copper and iron limitation in roots. We characterized a knockout of COPT2, copt2-1, that leads to increased resistance to simultaneous copper and iron deficiencies, measured as reduced leaf chlorosis and improved maintenance of the photosynthetic apparatus. We propose that COPT2 could play a dual role under iron deficiency. First, COPT2 participates in the attenuation of copper deficiency responses driven by iron limitation, possibly to minimize further iron consumption. Second, global expression analyses of copt2-1 versus wild-type Arabidopsis plants indicate that low-phosphate responses increase in the mutant. These results open up new biotechnological approaches to fight iron deficiency in crops.

Calcium- and potassium-permeable plasma membrane transporters are activated by copper in Arabidopsis root tips: linking copper transport with cytosolic hydroxyl radical production

Transition metals such as copper can interact with ascorbate or hydrogen peroxide to form highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (OH(•) ), with numerous implications to membrane transport activity and cell metabolism. So far, such interaction was described for extracellular (apoplastic) space but not cytosol. Here, a range of advanced electrophysiological and imaging techniques were applied to Arabidopsis thaliana plants differing in their copper-transport activity: Col-0, high-affinity copper transporter COPT1-overexpressing (C1(OE) ) seedlings, and T-DNA COPT1 insertion mutant (copt1). Low Cu concentrations (10 µm) stimulated a dose-dependent Gd(3+) and verapamil sensitive net Ca(2+) influx in the root apex but not in mature zone. C1(OE) also showed a fivefold higher Cu-induced K(+) efflux at the root tip level compared with Col-0, and a reduction in basal peroxide accumulation at the root tip after copper exposure. Copper caused membrane disruptions of the root apex in C1(OE) seedlings but not in copt1 plants; this damage was prevented by pretreatment with Gd(3+) . Our results suggest that copper transport into cytosol in root apex results in hydroxyl radical generation at the cytosolic side, with a consequent regulation of plasma membrane OH(•) -sensitive Ca(2+) and K(+) transport systems.

Iron is involved in the maintenance of circadian period length in Arabidopsis

The homeostasis of iron (Fe) in plants is strictly regulated to maintain an optimal level for plant growth and development but not cause oxidative stress. About 30% of arable land is considered Fe deficient because of calcareous soil that renders Fe unavailable to plants. Under Fe-deficient conditions, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) shows retarded growth, disordered chloroplast development, and delayed flowering time. In this study, we explored the possible connection between Fe availability and the circadian clock in growth and development. Circadian period length in Arabidopsis was longer under Fe-deficient conditions, but the lengthened period was not regulated by the canonical Fe-deficiency signaling pathway involving nitric oxide. However, plants with impaired chloroplast function showed long circadian periods. Fe deficiency and impaired chloroplast function combined did not show additive effects on the circadian period, which suggests that plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling is involved in the lengthening of circadian period under Fe deficiency. Expression pattern analyses of the central oscillator genes in mutants defective in CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1/LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL or GIGANTEA demonstrated their requirement for Fe deficiency-induced long circadian period. In conclusion, Fe is involved in maintaining the period length of circadian rhythm, possibly by acting on specific central oscillators through a retrograde signaling pathway.

Transition metals: a double edge sward in ROS generation and signaling

Transition metals such as Iron (Fe) and Copper (Cu) are essential for plant cell development. At the same time, due their capability to generate hydroxyl radicals they can be potentially toxic to plant metabolism. Recent works on hydroxyl-radical activation of ion transporters suggest that hydroxyl radicals generated by transition metals could play an important role in plant growth and adaptation to imbalanced environments. In this mini-review, the relation between transition metals uptake and utilization and oxidative stress-activated ion transport in plant cells is analyzed, and a new model depicting both apoplastic and cytosolic mode of ROS signaling to plasma membrane transporters is suggested.

Imazethapyr enantioselectively affects chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana

Imazethapyr (IM) is a chiral herbicide with reported enantioselective biological activities between its enantiomers. This report investigated the effect of enantioselectivity between R- and S-IM in Arabidopsis thaliana on chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis. The results suggest that R-IM inhibited the transcription of chlM to a greater extent than S-IM, which reduced chlorophyll synthesis. R-IM also showed a stronger inhibitory effect than S-IM on the transcription of photosynthesis-related genes, affecting linear electron transport and CO(2) fixation. IM stress enantioselectively induced transcriptional upregulation of the ndhH gene, a representative of the NDH complex. In contrast, the expression of pgr5 was downregulated, which demonstrated that IM stress enhanced adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthesis by stimulating an NDH-dependent and not ferredoxin (FD)-independent route. This study suggested that R-IM has a greater toxic effect on photosynthesis than S-IM, affecting plant growth through chlorophyll synthesis.

Reciprocal interaction of the circadian clock with the iron homeostasis network in Arabidopsis

In plants, iron (Fe) uptake and homeostasis are critical for survival, and these processes are tightly regulated at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Circadian clocks are endogenous oscillating mechanisms that allow an organism to anticipate environmental changes to coordinate biological processes both with one another and with the environmental day/night cycle. The plant circadian clock controls many physiological processes through rhythmic expression of transcripts. In this study, we examined the expression of three Fe homeostasis genes (IRON REGULATED TRANSPORTER1 [IRT1], BASIC HELIX LOOP HELIX39, and FERRITIN1) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) using promoter:LUCIFERASE transgenic lines. Each of these promoters showed circadian regulation of transcription. The circadian clock monitors a number of clock outputs and uses these outputs as inputs to modulate clock function. We show that this is also true for Fe status. Fe deficiency results in a lengthened circadian period. We interrogated mutants impaired in the Fe homeostasis response, including irt1-1, which lacks the major high-affinity Fe transporter, and fit-2, which lacks Fe deficiency-induced TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor necessary for induction of the Fe deficiency response. Both mutants exhibit symptoms of Fe deficiency, including lengthened circadian period. To determine which components are involved in this cross talk between the circadian and Fe homeostasis networks, we tested clock- or Fe homeostasis-related mutants. Mutants defective in specific clock gene components were resistant to the change in period length under different Fe conditions observed in the wild type, suggesting that these mutants are impaired in cross talk between Fe homeostasis and the circadian clock.

Copper transport and compartmentation in grape cells

Copper-based fungicides have been widely used against several grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) diseases since the late 1800s when the Bordeaux mixture was developed, but their intensive use has raised phytotoxicity concerns. In this study, physiological, biochemical and molecular approaches were combined to investigate the impacts of copper in grape cells and how it is transported and compartmented intracellularly. Copper reduced the growth and viability of grape cells (CSB, Cabernet Sauvignon Berry) in a dose-dependent manner above 100 µM and was accumulated in specific metal ion sinks. The copper-sensitive probe Phen Green SK was used to characterize copper transport across the plasma membrane of CSB cells. The transport system (K(m) = 583 µM; V(max) = 177 × 10(-6) %ΔF min(-1) protoplast(-1)) was regulated by copper availability in the culture medium, stimulated by Ca(2+) and inhibited by Zn(2+). The pH-sensitive fluorescent probe ACMA (9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine) was used to evaluate the involvement of proton-dependent copper transport across the tonoplast. Cu(2+) compartmentation in the vacuole was dependent on the transmembrane pH gradient generated by both V-H(+)-ATPase and V-H(+)-pyrophosphatase (PPase). High copper levels in the growth medium did not affect the activity of V-H(+)-PPase but decreased the magnitude of the H(+) gradient generated by V-H(+)-ATPase. Expression studies of VvCTr genes showed that VvCTr1 and VvCTr8 were distinctly affected by CuSO(4) availability in grape cell cultures and that both genes were highly expressed in the green stage of grape berries.

Interaction of brassinosteroids and polyamines enhances copper stress tolerance in raphanus sativus

Brassinosteroids (BRs) and polyamines (PAs) regulate various responses to abiotic stress, but their involvement in the regulation of copper (Cu) homeostasis in plants exposed to toxic levels of Cu is poorly understood. This study provides an analysis of the effects of exogenously applied BRs and PAs on radish (Raphanus sativus) plants exposed to toxic concentrations of Cu. The interaction of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR, an active BR) and spermidine (Spd, an active PA) on gene expression and the physiology of radish plants resulted in enhanced tolerance to Cu stress. Results indicated that the combined application of EBR and Spd modulated the expression of genes encoding PA enzymes and genes that impact the metabolism of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) resulting in enhanced Cu stress tolerance. Altered expression of genes implicated in Cu homeostasis appeared to be the main effect of EBR and Spd leading to Cu stress alleviation in radish. Ion leakage, in vivo imaging of H(2)O(2), comet assay, and improved tolerance of Cu-sensitive yeast strains provided further evidence for the ability of EBR and Spd to improve Cu tolerance significantly. The study indicates that co-application of EBR and Spd is an effective approach for Cu detoxification and the maintenance of Cu homeostasis in plants. Therefore, the use of these compounds in agricultural production systems should be explored.

Approaches for enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals

The contamination of the environment with toxic metals has become a worldwide problem. Metal toxicity affects crop yields, soil biomass and fertility. Soils polluted with heavy metals pose a serious health hazard to humans as well as plants and animals, and often requires soil remediation practices. Phytoextraction refers to the uptake of contaminants from soil or water by plant roots and their translocation to any harvestable plant part. Phytoextraction has the potential to remove contaminants and promote long-term cleanup of soil or wastewater. The success of phytoextraction as a potential environmental cleanup technology depends on factors like metal availability for uptake, as well as plants ability to absorb and accumulate metals in aerial parts. Efforts are ongoing to understand the genetics and biochemistry of metal uptake, transport and storage in hyperaccumulator plants so as to be able to develop transgenic plants with improved phytoremediation capability. Many plant species are being investigated to determine their usefulness for phytoextraction, especially high biomass crops. The present review aims to give an updated version of information available with respect to metal tolerance and accumulation mechanisms in plants, as well as on the environmental and genetic factors affecting heavy metal uptake. The genetic tools of classical breeding and genetic engineering have opened the door to creation of 'remediation' cultivars. An overview is presented on the possible strategies for developing novel genotypes with increased metal accumulation and tolerance to toxicity.

COPT6 is a plasma membrane transporter that functions in copper homeostasis in Arabidopsis and is a novel target of SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like 7

Among the mechanisms controlling copper homeostasis in plants is the regulation of its uptake and tissue partitioning. Here we characterized a newly identified member of the conserved CTR/COPT family of copper transporters in Arabidopsis thaliana, COPT6. We showed that COPT6 resides at the plasma membrane and mediates copper accumulation when expressed in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae copper uptake mutant. Although the primary sequence of COPT6 contains the family conserved domains, including methionine-rich motifs in the extracellular N-terminal domain and a second transmembrane helix (TM2), it is different from the founding family member, S. cerevisiae Ctr1p. This conclusion was based on the finding that although the positionally conserved Met(106) residue in the TM2 of COPT6 is functionally essential, the conserved Met(27) in the N-terminal domain is not. Structure-function studies revealed that the N-terminal domain is dispensable for COPT6 function in copper-replete conditions but is important under copper-limiting conditions. In addition, COPT6 interacts with itself and with its homolog, COPT1, unlike Ctr1p, which interacts only with itself. Analyses of the expression pattern showed that although COPT6 is expressed in different cell types of different plant organs, the bulk of its expression is located in the vasculature. We also show that COPT6 expression is regulated by copper availability that, in part, is controlled by a master regulator of copper homeostasis, SPL7. Finally, studies using the A. thaliana copt6-1 mutant and plants overexpressing COPT6 revealed its essential role during copper limitation and excess.

Spatiotemporal analysis of copper homeostasis in Populus trichocarpa reveals an integrated molecular remodeling for a preferential allocation of copper to plastocyanin in the chloroplasts of developing leaves

Plastocyanin, which requires copper (Cu) as a cofactor, is an electron carrier in the thylakoid lumen and essential for photoautotrophic growth of plants. The Cu microRNAs, which are expressed during Cu deprivation, down-regulate several transcripts that encode for Cu proteins. Since plastocyanin is not targeted by the Cu microRNAs, a cofactor economy model has been proposed in which plants prioritize Cu for use in photosynthetic electron transport. However, defects in photosynthesis are classic symptoms of Cu deprivation, and priorities in Cu cofactor delivery have not been determined experimentally. Using hydroponically grown Populus trichocarpa (clone Nisqually-1), we have established a physiological and molecular baseline for the response to Cu deficiency. An integrated analysis showed that Cu depletion strongly reduces the activity of several Cu proteins including plastocyanin, and consequently, photosynthesis and growth are decreased. Whereas plastocyanin mRNA levels were only mildly affected by Cu depletion, this treatment strongly affected the expression of other Cu proteins via Cu microRNA-mediated transcript down-regulation. Polyphenol oxidase was newly identified as Cu regulated and targeted by a novel Cu microRNA, miR1444. Importantly, a spatiotemporal analysis after Cu resupply to previously depleted plants revealed that this micronutrient is preferentially allocated to developing photosynthetic tissues. Plastocyanin and photosynthetic electron transport efficiency were the first to recover after Cu addition, whereas recovery of the other Cu-dependent activities was delayed. Our findings lend new support to the hypothesis that the Cu microRNAs serve to mediate a prioritization of Cu cofactor use. These studies also highlight poplar as an alternative sequenced model for spatiotemporal analyses of nutritional homeostasis.

The tonoplast copper transporter COPT5 acts as an exporter and is required for interorgan allocation of copper in Arabidopsis thaliana

Copper is an essential micronutrient for all organisms because it serves as a cofactor of several proteins involved in electron transfer. Elevated copper concentrations can cause toxic effects and organisms have established suitable mechanisms to regulate the uptake and internal distribution of copper to balance the content at an optimal concentration. In recent studies, a family of copper transporters (COPT) with high homology to other eukaryotic copper transporters (Ctr) has been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study we clarified the physiological function of COPT5. This carrier is located in the tonoplast and functions as a vacuolar copper exporter. Mutants lacking this transporter have altered copper contents in different organs when compared with wild-type plants. We were able to detect copper accumulation in the root and a decreased copper content in siliques and seeds when the COPT5 gene is mutated by T-DNA insertion. Vacuoles purified from copt5 T-DNA-insertion mutants show remarkably increased copper concentrations compared with wild-type organelles. We assume that on the cellular level COPT5 is important for copper export from the vacuole and on the level of the whole plant it is involved in the interorgan reallocation of copper ions from the root to reproductive organs.

Transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants expressing a fungal copper transporter gene show enhanced acquisition of copper

The diets of two-thirds of the world's population are deficient in one or more essential elements and one of the approaches to enhance the levels of mineral elements in food crops is by developing plants with ability to accumulate them in edible parts. Besides conventional methods, transgenic technology can be used for enhancing metal acquisition in plants. Copper is an essential element, which is often deficient in human diet. With the objective of developing plants with improved copper acquisition, a high-affinity copper transporter gene (tcu-1) was cloned from fungus Neurospora crassa and introduced into a model plant (Nicotiana tabacum). Integration of the transgene was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. Transgenic tobacco plants (T(0) and T(1)) expressing tcu-1, when grown in hydroponic medium spiked with different concentrations of copper, showed higher acquisition of copper (up to 3.1 times) compared with control plants. Transgenic plants grown in soil spiked with copper could also take up more copper compared with wild-type plants. Supplementation of other divalent cations such as Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) did not alter uptake of Cu by transgenic plants. The present study has shown that expression of a heterologous copper transporter in tobacco could enhance acquisition of copper.

Arabidopsis SUMO E3 ligase SIZ1 is involved in excess copper tolerance

The reversible conjugation of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) to protein substrates occurs as a posttranslational regulatory process in eukaryotic organisms. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), several stress-responsive SUMO conjugations are mediated mainly by the SUMO E3 ligase SIZ1. In this study, we observed a phenotype of hypersensitivity to excess copper in the siz1-2 and siz1-3 mutants. Excess copper can stimulate the accumulation of SUMO1 conjugates in wild-type plants but not in the siz1 mutant. Copper accumulated to a higher level in the aerial parts of soil-grown plants in the siz1 mutant than in the wild type. A dramatic difference in copper distribution was also observed between siz1 and wild-type Arabidopsis treated with excess copper. As a result, the shoot-to-root ratio of copper concentration in siz1 is nearly twice as high as that in the wild type. We have found that copper-induced Sumoylation is involved in the gene regulation of metal transporters YELLOW STRIPE-LIKE 1 (YSL1) and YSL3, as the siz1 mutant is unable to down-regulate the expression of YSL1 and YSL3 under excess copper stress. The hypersensitivity to excess copper and anomalous distribution of copper observed in the siz1 mutant are greatly diminished in the siz1ysl3 double mutant and slightly in the siz1ysl1 double mutant. These data suggest that SIZ1-mediated sumoylation is involved specifically in copper homeostasis and tolerance in planta.

Interactions between plant circadian clocks and solute transport

The Earth's rotation and its orbit around the Sun leads to continual changes in the environment. Many organisms, including plants and animals, have evolved circadian clocks that anticipate these changes in light, temperature, and seasons in order to optimize growth and physiology. Circadian timing is thought to derive from a molecular oscillator that is present in every plant cell. A central aspect of the circadian oscillator is the presence of transcription translation loops (TTLs) that provide negative feedback to generate circadian rhythms. This review examines the evidence that the 24 h circadian clocks of plants regulate the fluxes of solutes and how changes in solute concentrations can also provide feedback to modulate the behaviour of the molecular oscillator. It highlights recent advances that demonstrate interactions between components of TTLs and regulation of solute concentration and transport. How rhythmic control of water fluxes, ions such as K(+), metabolic solutes such as sucrose, micronutrients, and signalling molecules, including Ca(2+), might contribute to optimizing the physiology of the plant is discussed.

The intracellular Arabidopsis COPT5 transport protein is required for photosynthetic electron transport under severe copper deficiency

Copper is an essential micronutrient that functions as a redox cofactor in multiple plant processes, including photosynthesis. Arabidopsis thaliana possesses a conserved family of CTR-like high-affinity copper transport proteins denoted as COPT1-5. COPT1, the only family member that is functionally characterized, participates in plant copper acquisition. However, little is known about the function of the other Arabidopsis COPT proteins in the transport and distribution of copper. Here, we show that a functional fusion of COPT5 to the green fluorescent protein localizes in Arabidopsis cells to the prevacuolar compartment. Plants defective in COPT5 do not exhibit any significant phenotype under copper-sufficient conditions, but their growth is compromised under copper limitation. Under extreme copper deficiency, two independent copt5 knockout mutant lines exhibit severe defects in vegetative growth and root elongation, low chlorophyll content, and impairment in the photosynthetic electron transfer. All these phenotypes are rescued when the wild-type copy of the COPT5 gene is retransformed into a copt5 knockout line or when copper, but not other metals, are added to the medium. COPT5 is expressed in vascular tissues, with elevated levels in roots. Taken together, these results suggest that COPT5 plays an important role in the plant response to environmental copper scarcity, probably by remobilizing copper from prevacuolar vesicles, which could act as internal stores or recycling vesicles to provide the metal cofactor to key copper-dependent processes such as photosynthesis.

Copper homeostasis influences the circadian clock in Arabidopsis

Almost every aspect of plant physiology is influenced by diurnal and seasonal environmental cycles which suggests that biochemical oscillations must be a pervasive phenomenon in the underlying molecular organization. The circadian clock is entrained by light and temperature cycles, and controls a wide variety of endogenous processes that enable plants to anticipate the daily periodicity of environmental conditions. Several previous reports suggest a connection between copper (Cu) homeostasis and the circadian clock in different organisms other than plants. However, the nature of the Cu homeostasis influence on chronobiology remains elusive. Cytosolic Cu content could oscillate since Cu regulates its own transporters expression. We recently reported how the deregulation of Cu homeostasis in Arabidopsis transgenic plants affects the expression of two MYB transcription factors which are nuclear components of the circadian clock. In this addendum, we hypothesize the advantages that could be derived from the influence of metal homeostasis on plant circadian rhythms and their significance.