Detection of phytochelatins in the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii exposed to cadmium and lead.
Phytochelatins (PCs) are known to play an essential role in the heavy metal detoxification of some higher plants and fungi by chelating heavy metals. However, three recent papers reported that no PCs could be detected in the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance upon cadmium, lead or zinc treatment, respectively. In this paper, PC synthesis was assayed again in the mine population of S. alfredii with the help of reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), HPLC-mass spectrometry, and HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. Our data showed that PC formation could be induced in the leaf, stem and root tissues of S. alfredii upon exposure to 400 microM cadmium, and only in the stem and root when exposed to 700 microM lead. However, no PCs were found in any part of S. alfredii when it was subjected to exposure to 1600 microM zinc.
Zhang
Zhongchun
Z
College of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079 Hubei, PR China.
Gao
Xiang
X
Qiu
Baosheng
B
D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D054811:Phytochelatins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D031963:Sedum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity
D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D054811:Phytochelatins; D015032:Zinc