Relationships of nicotianamine and other amino acids with nickel, zinc and iron in Thlaspi hyperaccumulators.
Experimental evidence suggests that nicotianamine (NA) is involved in the complexation of metal ions in some metal-hyperaccumulating plants. Closely-related nickel (Ni)- and zinc (Zn)-hyperaccumulating species were studied to determine whether a correlation exists between the Ni and Zn concentrations and NA in foliar tissues. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) procedure was developed to quantify the NA and amino acid contents using the derivatizing agent 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate. A strong correlation emerged between Ni and NA, but not between Zn and NA. Concentrations of NA and L-histidine (His) also increased in response to higher Ni concentrations in the hydroponic solution supplied to a serpentine population of Thlaspi caerulescens. An inversely proportional correlation was found between the iron (Fe) and Ni concentrations in the leaves. Correlations were also found between Zn and asparagine. The results obtained in this study suggest that NA is involved in hyperaccumulation of Ni but not Zn. The inverse proportionality between the Ni and Fe concentrations in the leaf may suggest that Ni and Fe compete for complexation to NA.
Callahan
Damien L
DL
School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
Kolev
Spas D
SD
School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
O'Hair
Richard A J
RAJ
School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.|Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
Salt
David E
DE
Centre for Plant Environmental Stress Physiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Baker
Alan J M
AJM
School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001383:Azetidinecarboxylic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009532:Nickel / Q000378:metabolism*; D031227:Thlaspi / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
D000588:Amines; D000596:Amino Acids; C082893:nicotianamine; D001383:Azetidinecarboxylic Acid; D009532:Nickel; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc