title: A gel electrophoresis assay for phytochelatins.
abstract: Phytochelatins are metal-binding peptides produced by higher plants and some fungi in response to heavy metal exposure. Established methods for analyzing cell-free extracts for the presence of phytochelatins include gel-filtration chromatography and HPLC. We have developed a nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis assay for phytochelatins that combines a small sample size with detection via metal binding. This assay can be used for the measurement of the relative affinity of phytochelatins for a variety of metal and semimetal ions.
authors.affiliation: USDA/ARS Plant Gene Expression Center, Albany, California 94710.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Abrahamson
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Speiser
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ow
mesh_terms: D002474:Cell-Free System; D002850:Chromatography, Gel / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods; D005978:Glutathione; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008970:Molecular Weight; D054811:Phytochelatins; D063245:Plant Development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D008667:Metalloproteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054811:Phytochelatins; D005978:Glutathione