Hairy roots of Helianthus annuus: a model system to study phytoremediation of tetracycline and oxytetracycline.
The release of antibiotics to the environment has to be controlled because of serious threats to human health. Hairy root cultures of Helianthus annuus (sunflower), along with their inherent rhizospheric activity, provide a fast growing, microbe-free environment for understanding plant-pollutant interactions. The root system catalyzes rapid disappearance of tetracycline (TC) and oxytetracycline (OTC) from aqueous media, which suggests roots have potential for phytoremediation of the two antibiotics in vivo. In addition, in vitro modifications of the two antibiotics by filtered, cell- and microbe-free root exudates suggest involvement of root-secreted compounds. The modification is confirmed from changes observed in UV spectra of exudate-treated OTC. Modification appears to be more dominant at the BCD chromophore of the antibiotic molecule. Kinetic analyses dismiss direct enzyme catalysis; the modification rates decrease with increasing OTC concentrations. The rates increase with increasing age of cultures from which root exudates are prepared. The decrease in modification rates upon addition of the antioxidant ascorbic acid (AA) suggests involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the antibiotic modification process.
Gujarathi
Ninad P
NP
Department of Chemical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.
Haney
Bryan J
BJ
Park
Heidi J
HJ
Wickramasinghe
S Ranil
SR
Linden
James C
JC
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006368:Helianthus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D014873:Water Pollutants; D013752:Tetracycline; D010118:Oxytetracycline