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Zhang R, Chen P, Ju Z, Tang H. Phytotoxic responses of acrocarpous moss Campylopus schmidii as bioindicators in copper and cadmium contaminated environments: A comprehensive assessment. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 364:143082. [PMID: 39142395 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Mosses play a vital role in environmental research as reliable biomonitoring tools. This study aims to understand the accumulation and distribution patterns of Cu and Cd in the acrocarpous moss [Campylopus schmidii (Müll. Hal.) A. Jaeger] (C.schmidii). In controlled in vitro experiments, C.schmidii cultures were exposed to varying concentrations of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) stress (0, 10, 25, 50 μmol/L) in aquatic media. The study systematically evaluated the moss's response, including observing appearance features, oxidative traits, and accumulation characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses were employed. They aimed to characterize and determine the distribution of metal particles in different parts of the mosses under high concentration treatments (50 μmol/L Cd, 50 μmol/L Cu, 50 μmol/L Cu and Cd). Results indicated that C.schmidii exhibited greater tolerance to Cu compared to Cd, as evidenced by significantly higher soluble protein content and lipid peroxidation with increasing concentrations. However, Cd stress induced severe damage, including widespread chlorosis, reduced chlorophyll content, and surface fragmentation. Both Cu and Cd were found to stimulate antioxidant levels by increasing the activity of hydrogen peroxide and peroxidase, thus reducing the accumulation of free radicals in C.schmidii. Additionally, the results revealed differential metal distribution. Higher Cu (2.23%) and lower Cd (0.54%) accumulation were observed at the bottom of gametophores, with Cd content 180.46% higher than Cu at the top. This study provides valuable insights into the potential application of acrocarpous mosses for biomonitoring and phytoremediation. It suggests specific strategies for metal deposition and absorption, such as utilizing upper, younger parts for Cd absorption and lower parts for Cu remediation in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhang
- Department of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, 637000, PR China.
| | - Peng Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, PR China.
| | - Zhuang Ju
- Key Laboratory for Research and Utilization of Characteristic Biological Resources, Co-built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing Jinfo Mountain Advanced Research Institute, Chongqing, 401147, PR China.
| | - Hao Tang
- Ecological Protection and Development Research Institute of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Aba, Sichuan, 623000, PR China.
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Ferrari M, Marieschi M, Cozza R, Torelli A. Phytochelatin Synthase: An In Silico Comparative Analysis in Cyanobacteria and Eukaryotic Microalgae. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2165. [PMID: 39124283 PMCID: PMC11314372 DOI: 10.3390/plants13152165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Phytochelatins (PCs) are small cysteine-rich peptides involved in metal detoxification, not genetically encoded but enzymatically synthesized by phytochelatin synthases (PCSs) starting from glutathione. The constitutive PCS expression even in the absence of metal contamination, the wide phylogenetic distribution and the similarity between PCSs and the papain-type cysteine protease catalytic domain suggest a wide range of functions for PCSs. These proteins, widely studied in land plants, have not been fully analyzed in algae and cyanobacteria, although these organisms are the first to cope with heavy-metal stress in aquatic environments and can be exploited for phytoremediation. To fill this gap, we compared the features of the PCS proteins of different cyanobacterial and algal taxa by phylogenetic linkage. The analyzed sequences fall into two main, already known groups of PCS-like proteins. Contrary to previous assumptions, they are not classed as prokaryotic and eukaryotic sequences, but rather as sequences characterized by the alternative presence of asparagine and aspartic/glutamic acid residues in proximity of the catalytic cysteine. The presence of these enzymes with peculiar features suggests differences in their post-translational regulation related to cell/environmental requirements or different cell functions rather than to differences due to their belonging to different phylogenetic taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Ferrari
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (M.F.); (R.C.)
| | - Matteo Marieschi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy;
| | - Radiana Cozza
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036 Cosenza, Italy; (M.F.); (R.C.)
| | - Anna Torelli
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy;
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Vitelli V, Giamborino A, Bertolini A, Saba A, Andreucci A. Cadmium Stress Signaling Pathways in Plants: Molecular Responses and Mechanisms. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:6052-6068. [PMID: 38921032 PMCID: PMC11202648 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Heavy metal (HM) pollution, specifically cadmium (Cd) contamination, is a worldwide concern for its consequences for plant health and ecosystem stability. This review sheds light on the intricate mechanisms underlying Cd toxicity in plants and the various strategies employed by these organisms to mitigate its adverse effects. From molecular responses to physiological adaptations, plants have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms to counteract Cd stress. We highlighted the role of phytochelatins (PCn) in plant detoxification, which chelate and sequester Cd ions to prevent their accumulation and minimize toxicity. Additionally, we explored the involvement of glutathione (GSH) in mitigating oxidative damage caused by Cd exposure and discussed the regulatory mechanisms governing GSH biosynthesis. We highlighted the role of transporter proteins, such as ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABCs) and heavy metal ATPases (HMAs), in mediating the uptake, sequestration, and detoxification of Cd in plants. Overall, this work offered valuable insights into the physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms underlying plant responses to Cd stress, providing a basis for strategies to alleviate the unfavorable effects of HM pollution on plant health and ecosystem resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vitelli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.G.); (A.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Agnese Giamborino
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.G.); (A.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Andrea Bertolini
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.G.); (A.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Alessandro Saba
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.G.); (A.B.); (A.S.)
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Salbitani G, Maresca V, Cianciullo P, Bossa R, Carfagna S, Basile A. Non-Protein Thiol Compounds and Antioxidant Responses Involved in Bryophyte Heavy-Metal Tolerance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065302. [PMID: 36982378 PMCID: PMC10049163 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Heavy-metal pollution represents a problem which has been widely discussed in recent years. The biological effects of heavy metals have been studied in both animals and plants, ranging from oxidative stress to genotoxicity. Plants, above all metal-tolerant species, have evolved a wide spectrum of strategies to counteract exposure to toxic metal concentrations. Among these strategies, the chelation and vacuolar sequestration of heavy metals are, after cell-wall immobilization, the first line of defence that prevent heavy metals from interacting with cell components. Furthermore, bryophytes activate a series of antioxidant non-enzymatic and enzymatic responses to counteract the effects of heavy metal in the cellular compartments. In this review, the role of non-protein thiol compounds and antioxidant molecules in bryophytes will be discussed.
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Díaz S, Aguilera Á, de Figueras CG, de Francisco P, Olsson S, Puente-Sánchez F, González-Pastor JE. Heterologous Expression of the Phytochelatin Synthase CaPCS2 from Chlamydomonas acidophila and Its Effect on Different Stress Factors in Escherichia coli. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137692. [PMID: 35805349 PMCID: PMC9265389 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Phytochelatins (PCs) are cysteine-rich small peptides, enzymatically synthesized from reduced glutathione (GSH) by cytosolic enzyme phytochelatin synthase (PCS). The open reading frame (ORF) of the phytochelatin synthase CaPCS2 gene from the microalgae Chlamydomonas acidophila was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli strain DH5α, to analyze its role in protection against various abiotic agents that cause cellular stress. The transformed E. coli strain showed increased tolerance to exposure to different heavy metals (HMs) and arsenic (As), as well as to acidic pH and exposure to UVB, salt, or perchlorate. In addition to metal detoxification activity, new functions have also been reported for PCS and PCs. According to the results obtained in this work, the heterologous expression of CaPCS2 in E. coli provides protection against oxidative stress produced by metals and exposure to different ROS-inducing agents. However, the function of this PCS is not related to HM bioaccumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Díaz
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, C. José Antonio Novais, 12, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Ángeles Aguilera
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir, km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain; (Á.A.); (C.G.d.F.); (P.d.F.); (J.E.G.-P.)
| | - Carolina G. de Figueras
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir, km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain; (Á.A.); (C.G.d.F.); (P.d.F.); (J.E.G.-P.)
| | - Patricia de Francisco
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir, km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain; (Á.A.); (C.G.d.F.); (P.d.F.); (J.E.G.-P.)
| | - Sanna Olsson
- Department of Forest Ecology and Genetics, Forest Research Centre (INIA, CSIC), Carretera de La Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Fernando Puente-Sánchez
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lennart Hjelms väg 9, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - José Eduardo González-Pastor
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir, km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850 Madrid, Spain; (Á.A.); (C.G.d.F.); (P.d.F.); (J.E.G.-P.)
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Tools for In Vitro Propagation/Synchronization of the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and Application of a Validated HPLC-ESI-MS-MS Method for Glutathione and Phytochelatin Analysis. STRESSES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/stresses2010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bryophytes, due to their poikilohydric nature and peculiar traits, are useful and versatile organisms for studies on metal accumulation and detoxification in plants. Among bryophytes, the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha is an excellent candidate as a model organism, having a key role in plant evolutionary history. In particular, M. polymorpha axenic cultivation of gametophytes offers several advantages, such as fast growth, easy propagation and high efficiency of crossing. Thus, the main purpose of this work was to promote and validate experimental procedures useful in the establishment of a standardized set-up of M. polymorpha gametophytes, as well as to study cadmium detoxification processes in terms of thiol-peptide production, detection and characterisation by HPLC-mass spectrometry. The results show how variations in the composition of the Murashige and Skoog medium impact the growth rate or development of this liverwort, and what levels of glutathione and phytochelatins are produced by gametophytes to counteract cadmium stress.
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Chakdar H, Thapa S, Srivastava A, Shukla P. Genomic and proteomic insights into the heavy metal bioremediation by cyanobacteria. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127609. [PMID: 34772552 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals (HMs) pose a global ecological threat due to their toxic effects on aquatic and terrestrial life. Effective remediation of HMs from the environment can help to restore soil's fertility and ecological vigor, one of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations. The cyanobacteria have emerged as a potential option for bioremediation of HMs due to their unique adaptations and robust metabolic machineries. Generally, cyanobacteria deploy multifarious mechanisms such as biosorption, bioaccumulation, activation of metal transporters, biotransformation and induction of detoxifying enzymes to sequester and minimize the toxic effects of heavy metals. Therefore, understanding the physiological responses and regulation of adaptation mechanisms at molecular level is necessary to unravel the candidate genes and proteins which can be manipulated to improve the bioremediation efficiency of cyanobacteria. Chaperons, cellular metabolites (extracellular polymers, biosurfactants), transcriptional regulators, metal transporters, phytochelatins and metallothioneins are some of the potential targets for strain engineering. In the present review, we have discussed the potential of cyanobacteria for HM bioremediation and provided a deeper insight into their genomic and proteomic regulation of various tolerance mechanisms. These approaches might pave new possibilities of implementing genetic engineering strategies for improving bioremediation efficiency with a future perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillol Chakdar
- Microbial Technology Unit II, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (NBAIM), Mau 275103, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shobit Thapa
- Microbial Technology Unit II, ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (NBAIM), Mau 275103, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Amit Srivastava
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, ID 47907-2048, United States
| | - Pratyoosh Shukla
- School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India; Enzyme Technology and Protein Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India.
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8
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Fasani E, Li M, Varotto C, Furini A, DalCorso G. Metal Detoxification in Land Plants: From Bryophytes to Vascular Plants. STATE of the Art and Opportunities. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11030237. [PMID: 35161218 PMCID: PMC8837986 DOI: 10.3390/plants11030237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Potentially toxic elements are a widespread concern due to their increasing diffusion into the environment. To counteract this problem, the relationship between plants and metal(loid)s has been investigated in the last 30 years. In this field, research has mainly dealt with angiosperms, whereas plant clades that are lower in the evolutive scale have been somewhat overlooked. However, recent studies have revealed the potential of bryophytes, pteridophytes and gymnosperms in environmental sciences, either as suitable indicators of habitat health and elemental pollution or as efficient tools for the reclamation of degraded soils and waters. In this review, we summarize recent research on the interaction between plants and potentially toxic elements, considering all land plant clades. The focus is on plant applicability in the identification and restoration of polluted environments, as well as on the characterization of molecular mechanisms with a potential outlet in the engineering of element tolerance and accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Fasani
- Department Biotechnology, University of Verona, Str. Le Grazie 15, 37131 Verona, Italy;
| | - Mingai Li
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’ Adige, Italy; (M.L.); (C.V.)
| | - Claudio Varotto
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’ Adige, Italy; (M.L.); (C.V.)
| | - Antonella Furini
- Department Biotechnology, University of Verona, Str. Le Grazie 15, 37131 Verona, Italy;
- Correspondence: (A.F.), (G.D.)
| | - Giovanni DalCorso
- Department Biotechnology, University of Verona, Str. Le Grazie 15, 37131 Verona, Italy;
- Correspondence: (A.F.), (G.D.)
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Xu Y, Yang R, Zhang J, Gao L, Ni X. Distribution and dispersion of heavy metals in the rock-soil-moss system of the black shale areas in the southeast of Guizhou Province, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:854-867. [PMID: 34342823 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15335-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Black shales are easily exposed due to human activities such as mining, road construction, and shale gas development, which results in several environmental issues including heavy metal (HM) pollution, soil erosion, and the destruction of vegetation. Mosses are widely used to monitor metal pollution in the atmosphere, but few studies on the distribution and dispersion of HMs in the rock-soil-moss system are available. Here, mosses (Pohlia flexuosa Harv. in Hook), growing soils, and corresponding parent rocks were collected from black shale areas. After appropriate pretreatment, samples were analyzed for multiple elemental concentrations by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The results show that black shale parent rocks have elevated HM concentration and act as a source of multiple metals. The overlying soil significantly inherits and accumulates heavy metals released from black shale. Significant positive correlations between HMs in P. flexuosa and the growing soils indicate that HMs are mainly originating from geological source rather than atmospheric deposition. Differential accumulation of HMs is observed between rhizoids and stems in our study. Moreover, P. flexuosa is able to cope with high concentrations of toxic metals without any visible negative effect on its growth and development. Finally, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) for all the HMs in P. flexuosa is less than 1, indicating that it has a tolerance and exclusion mechanism for these metals, especially for the non-essential elements As and Pb. Therefore, the luxuriant and spontaneous growth of P. flexuosa could be used as a phytostabilization pioneer plant in the black shale outcrop where vascular plants are rare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyuan Xu
- College of Resources and Environment Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Ruidong Yang
- College of Resources and Environment Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
- Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Jian Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, China
| | - Lei Gao
- College of Resources and Environment Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Xinran Ni
- College of Resources and Environment Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
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Carrillo JT, Borthakur D. Methods for metal chelation in plant homeostasis: Review. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2021; 163:95-107. [PMID: 33826996 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Metal uptake, transport and storage in plants depend on specialized ligands with closely related functions. Individual studies differing by species, nutrient availability, tissue type, etc. are not comprehensive enough to understand plant metal homeostasis in its entirety. A thorough review is required that distinguishes the role of ligands directly involved in chelation from the myriad of plant responses to general stress. Distinguishing between the functions of metal chelating compounds is the primary focus of this review; reactive oxygen species mediation and other aspects of metal homeostasis are also discussed. High molecular weight ligands (polysaccharides, phytochelatin, metallothionein), low molecular weight ligands (nicotianamine, histidine, secondary metabolites) and select studies which demonstrate the complex nature of plant metal homeostasis are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Carrillo
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Molecular Biology and Bioengineering, 1955 East-West Road, Agricultural Sciences 218, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
| | - Dulal Borthakur
- University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Molecular Biology and Bioengineering, 1955 East-West Road, Agricultural Sciences 218, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
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Bellini E, Betti C, Sanità di Toppi L. Responses to Cadmium in Early-Diverging Streptophytes (Charophytes and Bryophytes): Current Views and Potential Applications. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:770. [PMID: 33919852 PMCID: PMC8070800 DOI: 10.3390/plants10040770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Several transition metals are essential for plant growth and development, as they are involved in various fundamental metabolic functions. By contrast, cadmium (Cd) is a metal that can prove extremely toxic for plants and other organisms in a dose-dependent manner. Charophytes and bryophytes are early-diverging streptophytes widely employed for biomonitoring purposes, as they are able to cope with high concentrations of toxic metal(loid)s without showing any apparent heavy damage. In this review, we will deal with different mechanisms that charophytes and bryophytes have evolved to respond to Cd at a cellular level. Particular attention will be addressed to strategies involving Cd vacuolar sequestration and cell wall immobilization, focusing on specific mechanisms that help achieve detoxification. Understanding the effects of metal(loid) pollution and accumulation on the morpho-physiological traits of charophytes and bryophytes can be in fact fundamental for optimizing their use as phytomonitors and/or phytoremediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Bellini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (L.S.d.T.)
| | - Camilla Betti
- Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
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12
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Heavy-Metal Phytoremediation from Livestock Wastewater and Exploitation of Exhausted Biomass. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18052239. [PMID: 33668294 PMCID: PMC7956449 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sustainable agriculture is aimed at long-term crop and livestock production with a minimal impact on the environment. However, agricultural practices from animal production can contribute to global pollution due to heavy metals from the feed additives that are used to ensure the nutritional requirements and also promote animal health and optimize production. The bioavailability of essential mineral sources is limited; thus, the metals are widely found in the manure. Via the manure, metallic ions can contaminate livestock wastewater, drastically reducing its potential recycling for irrigation. Phytoremediation, which is an efficient and cost-effective cleanup technique, could be implemented to reduce the wastewater pollution from livestock production, in order to maintain the water conservation. Plants use various strategies for the absorption and translocation of heavy metals, and they have been widely used to remediate livestock wastewater. In addition, the pollutants concentrated in the plants can be exhausted and used as heat to enhance plant growth and further concentrate the metals, making recycling a possible option. The biomass of the plants can also be used for biogas production in anaerobic fermentation. Combining phytoremediation and biorefinery processes would add value to both approaches and facilitate metal recovery. This review focuses on the concept of agro-ecology, specifically the excessive use of heavy metals in animal production, the various techniques and adaptations of the heavy-metal phytoremediation from livestock wastewater, and further applications of exhausted phytoremediated biomass.
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13
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Li M, Barbaro E, Bellini E, Saba A, Sanità di Toppi L, Varotto C. Ancestral function of the phytochelatin synthase C-terminal domain in inhibition of heavy metal-mediated enzyme overactivation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:6655-6669. [PMID: 32936292 PMCID: PMC7586750 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Phytochelatin synthases (PCSs) play essential roles in detoxification of a broad range of heavy metals in plants and other organisms. Until now, however, no PCS gene from liverworts, the earliest branch of land plants and possibly the first one to acquire a PCS with a C-terminal domain, has been characterized. In this study, we isolated and functionally characterized the first PCS gene from a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha (MpPCS). MpPCS is constitutively expressed in all organs examined, with stronger expression in thallus midrib. The gene expression is repressed by Cd2+ and Zn2+. The ability of MpPCS to increase heavy metal resistance in yeast and to complement cad1-3 (the null mutant of the Arabidopsis ortholog AtPCS1) proves its function as the only PCS from M. polymorpha. Site-directed mutagenesis of the most conserved cysteines of the C-terminus of the enzyme further uncovered that two twin-cysteine motifs repress, to different extents, enzyme activation by heavy metal exposure. These results highlight an ancestral function of the PCS elusive C-terminus as a regulatory domain inhibiting enzyme overactivation by essential and non-essential heavy metals. The latter finding may be relevant for obtaining crops with decreased root to shoot mobility of cadmium, thus preventing its accumulation in the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingai Li
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Enrico Barbaro
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Erika Bellini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Saba
- Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell’Area Critica, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Varotto
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Trento, Italy
- Correspondence: ,
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Su H, Zou T, Lin R, Zheng J, Jian S, Zhang M. Characterization of a phytochelatin synthase gene from Ipomoea pes-caprae involved in cadmium tolerance and accumulation in yeast and plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2020; 155:743-755. [PMID: 32866789 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Phytochelatin synthases (PCSs) play a crucial part in heavy metal tolerance in plants via the synthesis of phytochelatins (PCs), which can chelate heavy metals (HMs) in the vacuole and decrease cell damage. Plant PCSs are commonly designated as key genes for phytoremediation. In this study, we identified a PCS gene (IpPCS1) from Ipomoea pes-caprae and investigated its role in regulating cadmium (Cd) tolerance and accumulation. The expression of a truncated IpPCS1t in yeast could complement the Cd-sensitive phenotype of the ycf1Δ mutant strain, as well as improve the Cd tolerance of the wild-type yeast strain, while promoting Cd accumulation in the yeast cells. The expression of IpPCS1 was induced in I. pes-caprae plants under Cd treatment. Compared with IpPCS1, the lack of a C-terminal in IpPCS1t did not affect its Cd tolerance, but might restrict the zinc (Zn) detoxification in yeast. The overexpression of IpPCS1t in Arabidopsis could improve the Cd tolerance slightly and had little impact on Cd accumulation in transgenic plant. Our results indicated that IpPCS1 has certain potential application value in Cd tolerance and detoxification, therefore provides a useful genetic resource for enhancing Cd tolerance and improving the Cd phytoremediation capacity of plants or organisms. In addition, our research is the first time to discover a new possible Cd activation site in the C-terminal of IpPCS1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaxiang Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany & Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Tao Zou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany & Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Ruoyi Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany & Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jiexuan Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany & Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Shuguang Jian
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany & Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany & Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China; Center of Economic Botany, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China.
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Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Phytochelatin Synthases Differ Less in Functional Terms Than Previously Thought: A Comparative Analysis of Marchantia polymorpha and Geitlerinema sp. PCC 7407. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9070914. [PMID: 32698350 PMCID: PMC7411734 DOI: 10.3390/plants9070914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This paper reports functional studies on the enzyme phytochelatin synthase in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and the cyanobacterium Geitlerinema sp. strain PCC 7407. In vitro activity assays in control samples (cadmium-untreated) showed that phytochelatin synthase was constitutively expressed in both organisms. In the presence of 100 µM cadmium, in both the liverwort and the cyanobacterium, the enzyme was promptly activated in vitro, and produced phytochelatins up to the oligomer PC4. Likewise, in vivo exposure to 10–36 µM cadmium for 6-120 h induced in both organisms phytochelatin synthesis up to PC4. Furthermore, the glutathione (GSH) levels in M. polymorpha were constitutively low (compared with the average content in higher plants), but increased considerably under cadmium stress. Conversely, the GSH levels in Geitlerinema sp. PCC 7407 were constitutively high, but were halved under metal treatments. At odds with former papers, our results demonstrate that, as in M. polymorpha and other plants, the cyanobacterial phytochelatin synthase exposed to cadmium possesses manifest transpeptidasic activity, being able to synthesize phytochelatins with a degree of oligomerization higher than PC2. Therefore, prokaryotic and eukaryotic phytochelatin synthases differ less in functional terms than previously thought.
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16
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The Moss Leptodictyum riparium Counteracts Severe Cadmium Stress by Activation of Glutathione Transferase and Phytochelatin Synthase, but Slightly by Phytochelatins. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051583. [PMID: 32111035 PMCID: PMC7084805 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present work, we investigated the response to Cd in Leptodictyum riparium, a cosmopolitan moss (Bryophyta) that can accumulate higher amounts of metals than other plants, even angiosperms, with absence or slight apparent damage. High-performance liquid chromatography followed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of extracts from L. riparium gametophytes, exposed to 0, 36 and 360 µM Cd for 7 days, revealed the presence of γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC), reduced glutathione (GSH), and traces of phytochelatins. The increase in Cd concentrations progressively augmented reactive oxygen species levels, with activation of both antioxidant (catalase and superoxide dismutase) and detoxifying (glutathione-S-transferase) enzymes. After Cd treatment, cytosolic and vacuolar localization of thiol peptides was performed by means of the fluorescent dye monochlorobimane and subsequent observation with confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cytosolic fluorescence observed with the highest Cd concentrations was also consistent with the formation of γ-EC-bimane in the cytosol, possibly catalyzed by the peptidase activity of the L. riparium phytochelatin synthase. On the whole, activation of phytochelatin synthase and glutathione-S-transferase, but minimally phytochelatin synthesis, play a role to counteract Cd toxicity in L. riparium, in this manner minimizing the cellular damage caused by the metal. This study strengthens previous investigations on the L. riparium ability to efficiently hinder metal pollution, hinting at a potential use for biomonitoring and phytoremediation purposes.
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Stroppa N, Onelli E, Hejna M, Rossi L, Gagliardi A, Bini L, Baldi A, Moscatelli A. Typha latifolia and Thelypteris palustris behavior in a pilot system for the refinement of livestock wastewaters: A case of study. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 240:124915. [PMID: 31563105 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In animal livestock heavy metals are widely used as feed additives to control enteric bacterial infections as well as to enhance the integrity of the immune system. As these metals are only partially adsorbed by animals, the content of heavy metals in manure and wastewaters causes soil and ground water contamination, with Zn2+ and Cu2+ being the most critical output from pig livestock. Phytoremediation is considered a valid strategy to improve the purity of wastewaters. This work studied the effect of Zn2+ and Cu2+ on the morphology and protein expression in Thelypteris palustris and Typha latifolia plants, cultured in a wetland pilot system. Despite the absence of macroscopic alterations, remodeling of cell walls and changes in carbohydrate metabolism were observed in the rhizomes of both plants and in leaves of Thelypteris palustris. However, similar modifications seemed to be determined by the alterations of different mechanisms in these plants. These data also suggested that marsh ferns are more sensitive to metals than monocots. Whereas toleration mechanisms seemed to be activated in Typha latifolia, in Thelypteris palustris the observed modifications appeared as slight toxic effects due to metal exposure. This study clearly indicates that both plants could be successfully employed in in situ phytoremediation systems, to remove Cu2+ and Zn2+ at concentrations that are ten times higher than the legal limits, without affecting plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Stroppa
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Onelli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Monika Hejna
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Luciana Rossi
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Assunta Gagliardi
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare, Computazionale e Integrata - CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, Povo, 38123, Trento, Italy.
| | - Luca Bini
- Department of Life Science, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - Antonella Baldi
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, University of Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Moscatelli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Hu B, Deng F, Chen G, Chen X, Gao W, Long L, Xia J, Chen ZH. Evolution of Abscisic Acid Signaling for Stress Responses to Toxic Metals and Metalloids. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:909. [PMID: 32765540 PMCID: PMC7379394 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Toxic heavy metals and metalloids in agricultural ecosystems are crucial factors that limit global crop productivity and food safety. Industrial toxic heavy metals and metalloids such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic have contaminated large areas of arable land in the world and their accumulation in the edible parts of crops is causing serious health risks to humans and animals. Plants have co-evolved with various concentrations of these toxic metals and metalloids in soil and water. Some green plant species have significant innovations in key genes for the adaptation of abiotic stress tolerance pathways that are able to tolerate heavy metals and metalloids. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a vital role in the alleviation of heavy metal and metalloid stresses in plants. Here, we trace the evolutionary origins of the key gene families connecting ABA signaling with tolerance to heavy metals and metalloids in green plants. We also summarize the molecular and physiological aspects of ABA in the uptake, root-to-shoot translocation, chelation, sequestration, reutilization, and accumulation of key heavy metals and metalloids in plants. The molecular evolution and interaction between the ABA signaling pathway and mechanisms for heavy metal and metalloid tolerance are highlighted in this review. Therefore, we propose that it is promising to manipulate ABA signaling in plant tissues to reduce the uptake and accumulation of toxic heavy metals and metalloids in crops through the application of ABA-producing bacteria or ABA analogues. This may lead to improvements in tolerance of major crops to heavy metals and metalloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Hu
- Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education/Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Fenglin Deng
- Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education/Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Fenglin Deng, ; Zhong-Hua Chen,
| | - Guang Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education/Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education/Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Wei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Lu Long
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Jixing Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhong-Hua Chen
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Fenglin Deng, ; Zhong-Hua Chen,
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19
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Li M, Stragliati L, Bellini E, Ricci A, Saba A, Sanità di Toppi L, Varotto C. Evolution and functional differentiation of recently diverged phytochelatin synthase genes from Arundo donax L. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:5391-5405. [PMID: 31145784 PMCID: PMC6793451 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Phytochelatin synthases (PCSs) play pivotal roles in the detoxification of heavy metals and metalloids in plants; however, little information on the evolution of recently duplicated PCS genes in plant species is available. Here we characterize the evolution and functional differentiation of three PCS genes from the giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a biomass/bioenergy crop with remarkable resistance to cadmium and other heavy metals. Phylogenetic reconstruction with PCS genes from fully sequenced monocotyledonous genomes indicated that the three A. donax PCSs, namely AdPCS1-3, form a monophyletic clade. The AdPCS1-3 genes were expressed at low levels in many A. donax organs and displayed different levels of cadmium-responsive expression in roots. Overexpression of AdPCS1-3 in Arabidopsis thaliana and yeast reproduced the phenotype of functional PCS genes. Mass spectrometry analyses confirmed that AdPCS1-3 are all functional enzymes, but with significant differences in the amount of the phytochelatins synthesized. Moreover, heterogeneous evolutionary rates characterized the AdPCS1-3 genes, indicative of relaxed natural selection. These results highlight the elevated functional differentiation of A. donax PCS genes from both a transcriptional and an enzymatic point of view, providing evidence of the high evolvability of PCS genes and of plant responsiveness to heavy metal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingai Li
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige (TN) , Italy
| | - Luca Stragliati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, Parma, Italy
| | - Erika Bellini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ada Ricci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandro Saba
- Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell’Area Critica, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Varotto
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige (TN) , Italy
- Correspondence: or
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20
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Pakdee O, Songnuan W, Panvisavas N, Pokethitiyook P, Yokthongwattana K, Meetam M. Functional characterization of metallothionein-like genes from Physcomitrella patens: expression profiling, yeast heterologous expression, and disruption of PpMT1.2a gene. PLANTA 2019; 250:427-443. [PMID: 31037485 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03173-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Physcomitrella patens contains four metallothionein-like genes. Three were shown to confer metal tolerance in yeast. Transcript profiling suggests their roles in senescence and reproductive development or cadmium and oxidative stress. Metallothioneins (MTs) have been suggested to play various roles including metal detoxification, nutrient remobilization, ROS scavenging, stress tolerance, and plant development. However, little is known about the forms and functions of MTs in bryophytes. The moss Physcomitrella patens genome was found to contain four MT-like genes. Amino acid sequence composition showed that the P. patens MTs (PpMTs) were clustered with Type 1 plant MTs, and could be further classified into two sub-types, herein referred to as sub-type 1: PpMT1.1a and PpMT1.1b and sub-type 2: PpMT1.2a and PpMT1.2b. Transcript abundance of PpMT1.1b and PpMT1.2b was upregulated in the gametophore compared to protonema, and all, except PpMT1.2a, were highly induced in senescing gametophytes. PpMT1.1a and PpMT1.1b transcripts were upregulated in protonema treated with cadmium and hydrogen peroxide. Unlike many higher plant MTs, the PpMT transcript abundance was not strongly induced in response to copper and zinc. These results suggest that PpMTs may play a role in protecting P. patens from cadmium and oxidative stress and may be involved in tissues senescence and reproductive development. The PpMTs, except PpMT1.2b, were also able to confer metal tolerance and accumulation when heterologously expressed in the ∆cup1 yeast. A P. patens mutant lacking PpMT1.2a through targeted gene disruption was generated. However, it did not show any alteration in growth phenotypes under senescence-induced conditions or hypersensitivity to cadmium, copper, zinc, H2O2, and NaCl stresses. Further characterization of additional P. patens mutants lacking single or multiple PpMTs may provide insight into the physiological roles of bryophytic MTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orathai Pakdee
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Wisuwat Songnuan
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Nathinee Panvisavas
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Prayad Pokethitiyook
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | | | - Metha Meetam
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, CHE, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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21
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Dual Role of Metallic Trace Elements in Stress Biology-From Negative to Beneficial Impact on Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133117. [PMID: 31247908 PMCID: PMC6651804 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Heavy metals are an interesting group of trace elements (TEs). Some of them are minutely required for normal plant growth and development, while others have unknown biological actions. They may cause injury when they are applied in an elevated concentration, regardless of the importance for the plant functioning. On the other hand, their application may help to alleviate various abiotic stresses. In this review, both the deleterious and beneficial effects of metallic trace elements from their uptake by roots and leaves, through toxicity, up to the regulation of physiological and molecular mechanisms that are associated with plant protection against stress conditions have been briefly discussed. We have highlighted the involvement of metallic ions in mitigating oxidative stress by the activation of various antioxidant enzymes and emphasized the phenomenon of low-dose stimulation that is caused by non-essential, potentially poisonous elements called hormesis, which is recently one of the most studied issues. Finally, we have described the evolutionary consequences of long-term exposure to metallic elements, resulting in the development of unique assemblages of vegetation, classified as metallophytes, which constitute excellent model systems for research on metal accumulation and tolerance. Taken together, the paper can provide a novel insight into the toxicity concept, since both dose- and genotype-dependent response to the presence of metallic trace elements has been comprehensively explained.
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22
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Fontanini D, Andreucci A, Ruffini Castiglione M, Basile A, Sorbo S, Petraglia A, Degola F, Bellini E, Bruno L, Varotto C, Sanità di Toppi L. The phytochelatin synthase from Nitella mucronata (Charophyta) plays a role in the homeostatic control of iron(II)/(III). PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2018; 127:88-96. [PMID: 29554573 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Although some charophytes (sister group to land plants) have been shown to synthesize phytochelatins (PCs) in response to cadmium (Cd), the functional characterization of their phytochelatin synthase (PCS) is still completely lacking. To investigate the metal response and the presence of PCS in charophytes, we focused on the species Nitella mucronata. A 40 kDa immunoreactive PCS band was revealed in mono-dimensional western blot by using a polyclonal antibody against Arabidopsis thaliana PCS1. In two-dimensional western blot, the putative PCS showed various spots with acidic isoelectric points, presumably originated by post-translational modifications. Given the PCS constitutive expression in N. mucronata, we tested its possible involvement in the homeostasis of metallic micronutrients, using physiological concentrations of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), and verified its role in the detoxification of a non-essential metal, such as Cd. Neither in vivo nor in vitro exposure to Zn resulted in PCS activation and PC significant biosynthesis, while Fe(II)/(III) and Cd were able to activate the PCS in vitro, as well as to induce PC accumulation in vivo. While Cd toxicity was evident from electron microscopy observations, the normal morphology of cells and organelles following Fe treatments was preserved. The overall results support a function of PCS and PCs in managing Fe homeostasis in the carophyte N. mucronata.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Adriana Basile
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Sergio Sorbo
- CeSMA, Microscopy Section, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Petraglia
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Degola
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Erika Bellini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bruno
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Varotto
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, "Edmund Mach" Foundation, S. Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy
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De Benedictis M, Brunetti C, Brauer EK, Andreucci A, Popescu SC, Commisso M, Guzzo F, Sofo A, Ruffini Castiglione M, Vatamaniuk OK, Sanità di Toppi L. The Arabidopsis thaliana Knockout Mutant for Phytochelatin Synthase1 ( cad1-3) Is Defective in Callose Deposition, Bacterial Pathogen Defense and Auxin Content, But Shows an Increased Stem Lignification. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:19. [PMID: 29403524 PMCID: PMC5786554 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The enzyme phytochelatin synthase (PCS) has long been studied with regard to its role in metal(loid) detoxification in several organisms, i.e., plants, yeasts, and nematodes. It is in fact widely recognized that PCS detoxifies a number of heavy metals by catalyzing the formation of thiol-rich oligomers, namely phytochelatins, from glutathione and related peptides. However, recent investigations have highlighted other possible roles played by the PCS enzyme in the plant cell, e.g., the control of pathogen-triggered callose deposition. In order to examine novel aspects of Arabidopsis thaliana PCS1 (AtPCS1) functions and to elucidate its possible roles in the secondary metabolism, metabolomic data of A. thaliana wild-type and cad1-3 mutant were compared, the latter lacking AtPCS1. HPLC-ESI-MS analysis showed differences in the relative levels of metabolites from the glucosinolate and phenylpropanoid pathways between cad1-3 and wild-type plants. Specifically, in control (Cd-untreated) plants, higher levels of 4-methoxy-indol-3-ylmethylglucosinolate were found in cad1-3 plants vs. wild-type. Moreover, the cad1-3 mutant showed to be impaired in the deposit of callose after Cd exposure, suggesting that AtPCS1 protects the plant against the toxicity of heavy metals not only by synthesizing PCs, but also by contributing to callose deposition. In line with the contribution of callose in counteracting Cd toxicity, we found that another callose-defective mutant, pen2-1, was more sensitive to high concentrations of Cd than wild-type plants. Moreover, cad1-3 plants were more susceptible than wild-type to the hemibiotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. The metabolome also revealed differences in the relative levels of hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols, with consequences on cell wall properties and auxin content, respectively. First, increased lignification in the cad1-3 stems was found, probably aimed at counteracting the entry of Cd into the inner tissues. Second, in cad1-3 shoots, increased relative levels of kaempferol 3,7 dirhamnoside and quercetin hexoside rhamnoside were detected. These flavonols are endogenous inhibitors of auxin transport in planta; auxin levels in both roots and shoots of the cad1-3 mutant were in fact lower than those of the wild-type. Overall, our data highlight novel aspects of AtPCS1 functions in A. thaliana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Benedictis
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Cecilia Brunetti
- National Research Council of Italy, Istituto Per La Valorizzazione Del Legno E Delle Specie Arboree, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | - Sorina C. Popescu
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
| | - Mauro Commisso
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Flavia Guzzo
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Adriano Sofo
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | | | - Olena K. Vatamaniuk
- Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Luigi Sanità di Toppi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- *Correspondence: Luigi Sanità di Toppi,
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Zayneb C, Imen RH, Walid K, Grubb CD, Bassem K, Franck V, Hafedh M, Amine E. The phytochelatin synthase gene in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.): Phylogeny, evolution and expression. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 140:7-17. [PMID: 28231507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We studied date palm phytochelatin synthase type I (PdPCS1), which catalyzes the cytosolic synthesis of phytochelatins (PCs), a heavy metal binding protein, in plant cells. The gene encoding PdPCS1 (Pdpcs) consists of 8 exons and 7 introns and encodes a protein of 528 amino acids. PCs gene history was studied using Notung phylogeny. During evolution, gene loss from several lineages was predicted including Proteobacteria, Bilateria and Brassicaceae. In addition, eleven gene duplication events appeared toward interior nodes of the reconciled tree and four gene duplication events appeared toward the external nodes. These latter sequences belong to species with a second copy of PCs suggesting that this gene evolved through subfunctionalization. Pdpcs1 gene expression was measured in seedling hypocotyls exposed to Cd, Cu and Cr using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). A Pdpcs1 overexpression was evidenced in P. dactylifera seedlings exposed to metals suggesting that 1-the Pdpcs1 gene is functional, 2-there is an implication of the enzyme in metal detoxification mechanisms. Additionally, the structure of PdPCS1 was predicted using its homologue from Nostoc (cyanobacterium, NsPCS) as a template in Discovery studio and PyMol software. These analyses allowed us to identify the phytochelatin synthase type I enzyme in date palm (PdPCS1) via recognition of key consensus amino acids involved in the catalytic mechanism, and to propose a hypothetical binding and catalytic site for an additional substrate binding cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaâbene Zayneb
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP 1171, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia; Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, Université de Lille 1, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Rekik Hakim Imen
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP 1171, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Kriaa Walid
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP 1171, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - C Douglas Grubb
- Biorecycling Operations Research Laboratory, Des Moines, IA, USA
| | - Khemakhem Bassem
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP 1171, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Vandenbulcke Franck
- Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, Université de Lille 1, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Mejdoub Hafedh
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP 1171, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Elleuch Amine
- Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, BP 1171, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia.
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Olsson S, Penacho V, Puente-Sánchez F, Díaz S, Gonzalez-Pastor JE, Aguilera A. Horizontal Gene Transfer of Phytochelatin Synthases from Bacteria to Extremophilic Green Algae. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2017; 73:50-60. [PMID: 27592346 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0848-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptomic sequencing together with bioinformatic analyses and an automated annotation process led us to identify novel phytochelatin synthase (PCS) genes from two extremophilic green algae (Chlamydomonas acidophila and Dunaliella acidophila). These genes are of intermediate length compared to known PCS genes from eukaryotes and PCS-like genes from prokaryotes. A detailed phylogenetic analysis gives new insight into the complicated evolutionary history of PCS genes and provides evidence for multiple horizontal gene transfer events from bacteria to eukaryotes within the gene family. A separate subgroup containing PCS-like genes within the PCS gene family is not supported since the PCS genes are monophyletic only when the PCS-like genes are included. The presence and functionality of the novel genes in the organisms were verified by genomic sequencing and qRT-PCR. Furthermore, the novel PCS gene in Chlamydomonas acidophila showed very strong induction by cadmium. Cloning and expression of the gene in Escherichia coli clearly improves its cadmium resistance. The gene in Dunaliella was not induced, most likely due to gene duplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna Olsson
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Vanessa Penacho
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
- Bioarray, S.L., Parque Científico y Empresarial de la UMH. Edificio Quorum III, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 03202, Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Fernando Puente-Sánchez
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Díaz
- Departamento de Microbiología-III, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Angeles Aguilera
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain
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Zanella L, Fattorini L, Brunetti P, Roccotiello E, Cornara L, D'Angeli S, Della Rovere F, Cardarelli M, Barbieri M, Sanità di Toppi L, Degola F, Lindberg S, Altamura MM, Falasca G. Overexpression of AtPCS1 in tobacco increases arsenic and arsenic plus cadmium accumulation and detoxification. PLANTA 2016; 243:605-22. [PMID: 26563149 PMCID: PMC4757632 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-015-2428-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION The heterologous expression of AtPCS1 in tobacco plants exposed to arsenic plus cadmium enhances phytochelatin levels, root As/Cd accumulation and pollutants detoxification, but does not prevent root cyto-histological damages. High phytochelatin (PC) levels may be involved in accumulation and detoxification of both cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in numerous plants. Although polluted environments are frequently characterized by As and Cd coexistence, how increased PC levels affect the adaptation of the entire plant and the response of its cells/tissues to a combined contamination by As and Cd needs investigation. Consequently, we analyzed tobacco seedlings overexpressing Arabidopsis phytochelatin synthase1 gene (AtPCS1) exposed to As and/or Cd, to evaluate the levels of PCs and As/Cd, the cyto-histological modifications of the roots and the Cd/As leaf extrusion ability. When exposed to As and/or Cd the plants overexpressing AtPCS1 showed higher PC levels, As plus Cd root accumulation, and detoxification ability than the non-overexpressing plants, but a blocked Cd-extrusion from the leaf trichomes. In all genotypes, As, and Cd in particular, damaged lateral root apices, enhancing cell-vacuolization, causing thinning and stretching of endodermis initial cells. Alterations also occurred in the primary structure region of the lateral roots, i.e., cell wall lignification in the external cortex, cell hypertrophy in the inner cortex, crushing of endodermis and stele, and nuclear hypertrophy. Altogether, As and/or Cd caused damage to the lateral roots (and not to the primary one), with such damage not counteracted by AtPCS1 overexpression. The latter, however, positively affected accumulation and detoxification to both pollutants, highlighting that Cd/As accumulation and detoxification due to PCS1 activity do not reduce the cyto-histological damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Zanella
- Department of Environmental Biology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Fattorini
- Department of Environmental Biology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Brunetti
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie Charles Darwin, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrica Roccotiello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Polo Botanico Hanbury, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Cornara
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, Polo Botanico Hanbury, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone D'Angeli
- Department of Environmental Biology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maura Cardarelli
- Istituto di Biologia Medicina Molecolare e Nanobiotecnologie Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Barbieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Sylvia Lindberg
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Giuseppina Falasca
- Department of Environmental Biology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Kühnlenz T, Westphal L, Schmidt H, Scheel D, Clemens S. Expression of Caenorhabditis elegans PCS in the AtPCS1-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana cad1-3 mutant separates the metal tolerance and non-host resistance functions of phytochelatin synthases. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2015; 38:2239-47. [PMID: 25764348 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Phytochelatin synthases (PCS) play key roles in plant metal tolerance. They synthesize small metal-binding peptides, phytochelatins, under conditions of metal excess. Respective mutants are strongly cadmium and arsenic hypersensitive. However, their ubiquitous presence and constitutive expression had long suggested a more general function of PCS besides metal detoxification. Indeed, phytochelatin synthase1 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPCS1) was later implicated in non-host resistance. The two different physiological functions may be attributable to the two distinct catalytic activities demonstrated for AtPCS1, that is the dipeptidyl transfer onto an acceptor molecule in phytochelatin synthesis, and the proteolytic deglycylation of glutathione conjugates. In order to test this hypothesis and to possibly separate the two biological roles, we expressed a phylogenetically distant PCS from Caenorhabditis elegans in an AtPCS1 mutant. We confirmed the involvement of AtPCS1 in non-host resistance by showing that plants lacking the functional gene develop a strong cell death phenotype when inoculated with the potato pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Furthermore, we found that the C. elegans gene rescues phytochelatin synthesis and cadmium tolerance, but not the defect in non-host resistance. This strongly suggests that the second enzymatic function of AtPCS1, which remains to be defined in detail, is underlying the plant immunity function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Kühnlenz
- Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany
| | - Lore Westphal
- Department of Stress and Developmental Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle, 06120, Germany
| | - Holger Schmidt
- Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany
| | - Dierk Scheel
- Department of Stress and Developmental Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, Halle, 06120, Germany
| | - Stephan Clemens
- Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, Bayreuth, 95440, Germany
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Degola F, Fattorini L, Bona E, Sprimuto CT, Argese E, Berta G, Sanità di Toppi L. The symbiosis between Nicotiana tabacum and the endomycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae increases the plant glutathione level and decreases leaf cadmium and root arsenic contents. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2015; 92:11-8. [PMID: 25900420 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Over time, anthropogenic activities have led to severe cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) pollution in several environments. Plants inhabiting metal(loid)-contaminated areas should be able to sequester and detoxify these toxic elements as soon as they enter roots and leaves. We postulated here that an important role in protecting plants from excessive metal(loid) accumulation and toxicity might be played by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In fact, human exploitation of plant material derived from Cd- and As-polluted environments may lead to a noxious intake of these toxic elements; in particular, a possible source of Cd and As for humans is given by cigarette and cigar smoke. We investigated the role of AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae (T.H. Nicolson & Gerd.) C. Walker & A. Schüßler in protecting Nicotiana tabacum L. (cv. Petit Havana) from the above-mentioned metal(loid) stress. Our findings proved that the AM symbiosis is effective in increasing the plant tissue content of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), in influencing the amount of metal(loid)-induced chelators as phytochelatins, and in reducing the Cd and As content in leaves and roots of adult tobacco plants. These results might also prove useful in improving the quality of commercial tobacco, thus reducing the risks to human health due to inhalation of toxic elements contained in smoking products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Degola
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Fattorini
- Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Elisa Bona
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", Viale T. Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Christian Triscari Sprimuto
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Emanuele Argese
- Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università di Venezia "Ca' Foscari", Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venezia, Italy
| | - Graziella Berta
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", Viale T. Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Luigi Sanità di Toppi
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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29
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Liu P, Cai WJ, Yu L, Yuan BF, Feng YQ. Determination of Phytochelatins in Rice by Stable Isotope Labeling Coupled with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2015; 63:5935-5942. [PMID: 26073168 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A highly sensitive method was developed for the detection of phytochelatins (PCs) in rice by stable isotope labeling coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (IL-LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis. A pair of isotope-labeling reagents [ω-bromoacetonylquinolinium bromide (BQB) and BQB-d(7)] were used to label PCs in plant sample and standard PCs, respectively, and then combined prior to LC/MS analysis. The heavy labeled standards were used as the internal standards for quantitation to minimize the matrix and ion suppression effects in MS analysis. In addition, the ionization efficiency of PCs was greatly enhanced through the introduction of a permanent charged moiety of quaternary ammonium of BQB into PCs. The detection sensitivities of PCs upon BQB labeling improved by 14-750-fold, and therefore, PCs can be quantitated using only 5 mg of plant tissue. Furthermore, under cadmium (Cd) stress, we found that the contents of PCs in rice dramatically increased with the increased concentrations and treatment time of Cd. It was worth noting that PC5 was first identified and quantitated in rice tissues under Cd stress in the current study. Taken together, this IL-LC-ESI-MS/MS method demonstrated to be a promising strategy in detection of PCs in plants with high sensitivity and reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Jing Cai
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Bi-Feng Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Qi Feng
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China
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Anjum NA, Hasanuzzaman M, Hossain MA, Thangavel P, Roychoudhury A, Gill SS, Rodrigo MAM, Adam V, Fujita M, Kizek R, Duarte AC, Pereira E, Ahmad I. Jacks of metal/metalloid chelation trade in plants-an overview. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:192. [PMID: 25883598 PMCID: PMC4382971 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Varied environmental compartments including soils are being contaminated by a myriad toxic metal(loid)s (hereafter termed as "metal/s") mainly through anthropogenic activities. These metals may contaminate food chain and bring irreparable consequences in human. Plant-based approach (phytoremediation) stands second to none among bioremediation technologies meant for sustainable cleanup of soils/sites with metal-contamination. In turn, the capacity of plants to tolerate potential consequences caused by the extracted/accumulated metals decides the effectiveness and success of phytoremediation system. Chelation is among the potential mechanisms that largely govern metal-tolerance in plant cells by maintaining low concentrations of free metals in cytoplasm. Metal-chelation can be performed by compounds of both thiol origin (such as GSH, glutathione; PCs, phytochelatins; MTs, metallothioneins) and non-thiol origin (such as histidine, nicotianamine, organic acids). This paper presents an appraisal of recent reports on both thiol and non-thiol compounds in an effort to shed light on the significance of these compounds in plant-metal tolerance, as well as to provide scientific clues for the advancement of metal-phytoextraction strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naser A. Anjum
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Chemistry, University of AveiroAveiro, Portugal
| | - Mirza Hasanuzzaman
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural UniversityDhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad A. Hossain
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural UniversityMymensingh, Bangladesh
| | - Palaniswamy Thangavel
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Life Sciences, Periyar UniversitySalem, India
| | - Aryadeep Roychoudhury
- Post Graduate Department of Biotechnology, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous)Kolkata, India
| | - Sarvajeet S. Gill
- Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology Lab, Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand UniversityRohtak, India
| | - Miguel A. Merlos Rodrigo
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of TechnologyBrno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in BrnoBrno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Adam
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of TechnologyBrno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in BrnoBrno, Czech Republic
| | - Masayuki Fujita
- Laboratory of Plant Stress Responses, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa UniversityMiki-cho, Japan
| | - Rene Kizek
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of TechnologyBrno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in BrnoBrno, Czech Republic
| | - Armando C. Duarte
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Chemistry, University of AveiroAveiro, Portugal
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Chemistry, University of AveiroAveiro, Portugal
| | - Iqbal Ahmad
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Chemistry, University of AveiroAveiro, Portugal
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies and Department of Biology, University of AveiroAveiro, Portugal
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Phytochelatin synthase is required for tolerating metal toxicity in a basidiomycete yeast and is a conserved factor involved in metal homeostasis in fungi. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2015; 2. [PMID: 25926993 PMCID: PMC4410428 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-015-0013-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Phytochelatin synthase (PCS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthesis of phytochelatin from glutathione. Phytochelatins protect cells against the toxic effects of non-essential heavy metals, such as cadmium, and hence growth is restricted in the presence of these metals in mutants in PCS-encoding genes. PCS genes from fungi have been characterized in only two species in the Ascomycota, and these genes are considered sparsely distributed in the fungal kingdom. Results A gene encoding a putative PCS was identified in Sporobolomyces sp. strain IAM 13481, a fungus that is a member of the Pucciniomycotina subphylum of the Basidiomycota. The function of this PCS1 gene was assessed by heterologous expression in the Ascomycota yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and by mutating the gene in Sporobolomyces. The gene is required for tolerance to toxic concentrations of non-essential cadmium as well as the essential metal copper. Pcs1 homologs in fungi and other eukaryotes have putative targeting sequences for mitochondrial localization: the S. pombe homolog was fused to green fluorescent protein and it co-localized with a mitochondrial dye. Evaluation of the presence or absence of PCS and PCS-like homologs in the genome sequences of fungi indicates that they have a wide distribution, and the absence in most Ascomycota and Basidiomycota (the Dikarya) species can be explained by a small number of gene losses. Conclusions The ecology of the species within the fungi carrying putative PCS genes, the phenotypes of phytochelatin synthase mutants in two major fungal lineages, and the presence of homologs in many non-Dikarya lineages parallel what is seen in the plant and animal kingdoms. That is, PCS is a protein present early during the evolution of the fungi and whose role is not solely dedicated to combating toxic concentrations of non-essential metals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40694-015-0013-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Lutts S, Lefèvre I. How can we take advantage of halophyte properties to cope with heavy metal toxicity in salt-affected areas? ANNALS OF BOTANY 2015; 115:509-28. [PMID: 25672360 PMCID: PMC4332614 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcu264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Revised: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many areas throughout the world are simultaneously contaminated by high concentrations of soluble salts and by high concentrations of heavy metals that constitute a serious threat to human health. The use of plants to extract or stabilize pollutants is an interesting alternative to classical expensive decontamination procedures. However, suitable plant species still need to be identified for reclamation of substrates presenting a high electrical conductivity. SCOPE Halophytic plant species are able to cope with several abiotic constraints occurring simultaneously in their natural environment. This review considers their putative interest for remediation of polluted soil in relation to their ability to sequester absorbed toxic ions in trichomes or vacuoles, to perform efficient osmotic adjustment and to limit the deleterious impact of oxidative stress. These physiological adaptations are considered in relation to the impact of salt on heavy metal bioavailabilty in two types of ecosystem: (1) salt marshes and mangroves, and (2) mine tailings in semi-arid areas. CONCLUSIONS Numerous halophytes exhibit a high level of heavy metal accumulation and external NaCl may directly influence heavy metal speciation and absorption rate. Maintenance of biomass production and plant water status makes some halophytes promising candidates for further management of heavy-metal-polluted areas in both saline and non-saline environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Lutts
- Groupe de Recherche en Physiologie végétale (GRPV) - Earth and Life Institute - Agronomy (ELI-A), Université catholique de Louvain, 4-5 (Bte 7.07.13) Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, France and Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Isabelle Lefèvre
- Groupe de Recherche en Physiologie végétale (GRPV) - Earth and Life Institute - Agronomy (ELI-A), Université catholique de Louvain, 4-5 (Bte 7.07.13) Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, France and Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic Groupe de Recherche en Physiologie végétale (GRPV) - Earth and Life Institute - Agronomy (ELI-A), Université catholique de Louvain, 4-5 (Bte 7.07.13) Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, France and Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Degola F, De Benedictis M, Petraglia A, Massimi A, Fattorini L, Sorbo S, Basile A, Sanità di Toppi L. A Cd/Fe/Zn-responsive phytochelatin synthase is constitutively present in the ancient liverwort Lunularia cruciata (L.) dumort. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 55:1884-91. [PMID: 25189342 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcu117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Lunularia cruciata occupies a very basal position in the phylogenetic tree of liverworts, which in turn have been recognized as a very early clade of land plants. It would therefore seem appropriate to take L. cruciata as the startingpoint for investigating character evolution in plants' metal(loid) response. One of the strongest evolutionary pressures for land colonization by plants has come from potential access to much greater amounts of nutritive ions from surface rocks, compared to water. This might have resulted in the need to precisely regulate trace element homeostasis and to minimize the risk of exposure to toxic concentrations of certain metals, prompting the evolution of a number of response mechanisms, such as synthesis of phytochelatins, metal(loid)-binding thiol-peptides. Accordingly, if the ability to synthesize phytochelatins and the occurrence of an active phytochelatin synthase are traits present in a basal liverwort species, and have been even reinforced in 'modern' tracheophytes, e.g. Arabidopsis thaliana, then such traits would presumably have played an essential role in plant fitness over time. Hence, we demonstrated here that: (i) L. cruciata compartmentalizes cadmium in the vacuoles of the phototosynthetic parenchyma by means of a phytochelatin-mediated detoxification strategy, and possesses a phytochelatin synthase that is activated by cadmium and homeostatic concentrations of iron(II) and zinc; and (ii) A. thaliana phytochelatin synthase displays a higher and broader response to several metal(loid)s [namely: cadmium, iron(II), zinc, copper, mercury, lead, arsenic(III)] than L. cruciata phytochelatin synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Degola
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy Contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors
| | - Maria De Benedictis
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy Contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors
| | - Alessandro Petraglia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy Contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors
| | | | - Laura Fattorini
- Department of Environmental Biology, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Sorbo
- CeSMA, Microscopy Section, University of Naples 'Federico II', I-80139 Naples, Italy
| | - Adriana Basile
- Department of Biology, University of Naples 'Federico II', I-80137 Naples, Italy
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Pivato M, Fabrega-Prats M, Masi A. Low-molecular-weight thiols in plants: Functional and analytical implications. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 560:83-99. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2014] [Revised: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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