title: Expression of BjMT2, a metallothionein 2 from Brassica juncea, increases copper and cadmium tolerance in Escherichia coli and Arabidopsis thaliana, but inhibits root elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.
abstract: The protective function of a plant type-2 metallothionein was analysed after expression in Escherichia coli and in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. BjMT2 from Brassica juncea was expressed in E. coli as a TrxABjMT2 fusion protein. After affinity chromatography and cleavage from the TrxA domain, pure BjMT2 protein was obtained which strongly reacted with the thiol reagent monobromobimane. Escherichia coli cells expressing the TrxABjMT2 fusion were more tolerant to Cu2+ and Cd2+ exposure than control strains. Likewise, when BjMT2 cDNA was expressed in A. thaliana under the regulation of the 35S promoter, seedlings exhibited an increased tolerance against Cu2+ and Cd2+ based on shoot growth and chlorophyll content. Analysis of transiently transformed cells of A. thaliana and tobacco leaves by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed exclusive cytosolic localization of a BjMT2::EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) fusion protein in control and heavy metal-exposed plant cells. Remarkably, ectopic expression of BjMT2 reduced root growth in the absence of heavy metal exposure, whereas in the presence of 50 or 100 microM Cu2+ root growth in control and transgenic lines was identical. The results indicate that in A. thaliana, root and shoot development are differentially affected by ectopic expression of BjMT2.
authors.affiliation: Northeast Forestry, University Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Hexing Road 26, Harbin 150040, PR China. zan@hip.uni-hd.de
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhigang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuijie
authors.forename: Zu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuangang
authors.forename: Du
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yejie
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wachter
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gromes
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rausch
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017796:Caulimovirus / Q000235:genetics; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009149:Mustard Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000235:genetics; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D013879:Thioredoxins; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein