Expressing a bacterial mercuric ion binding protein in plant for phytoremediation of heavy metals.
A specific mercuric ion binding protein (MerP) originating from transposon TnMERI1 of Bacillus megaterium strain MB1 isolated from Minamata Bay displayed good adsorption capability for a variety of heavy metals. In this study, the Gram-positive MerP protein was expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis to create a model system for phytoremediation of heavy metals. Under control of an actin promoter, the transgenic Arabidpsis showed higher tolerance and accumulation capacity for mercury, cadium and lead when compared with the control plant. Results from confocal microscopy analysis also indicate that MerP was localized at the cell membrane and vesicles of plant cells. The developed transgenic plants possessing excellent metal-accumulative ability could have potential applications in decontamination of heavy metals.
Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
Ju-Liang
JL
Hsieh
Ching-Yi
CY
Chen
Meng-Hsuen
MH
Chiu
Mei-Fang
MF
Chein
Jo-Shu
JS
Chang
Ginro
G
Endo
Chieh-Chen
CC
Huang
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D007477:Ions; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007477:Ions; C086060:MerP protein, Bacteria; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011506:Proteins; D008628:Mercury