Activity of the AtMRP3 promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum plants is increased by cadmium, nickel, arsenic, cobalt and lead but not by zinc and iron.
Characterization of the function, regulation and metal-specificity of metal transporters is one of the basic steps needed for the understanding of transport and accumulation of toxic metals and metalloids by plants. In this work GUS was used as a reporter for monitoring the activity of the promoter of the AtMRP3 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, a gene encoding an ABC-transporter, expression of which is induced by heavy metals. The AtMRP3 promoter-GUS fusion expression cassette was introduced into the genome of two model plants, A. thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum. The promoter induces GUS activity in the roots as well as in the shoots upon metal exposure. Similar responses of the AtMRP3 promoter to the presence of the selected metals was observed in both plant species. Cadmium, nickel, arsenic, cobalt and lead strongly activated the transcription of the reporter gene, while zinc and iron had no impact. The AtMRP3 promoter thus seems to be a useful new tool in designing plants that can be used for biomonitoring of environmental contaminations.
Zientara
Katarzyna
K
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Wawrzyńska
Anna
A
Lukomska
Jolanta
J
López-Moya
José Rafael
JR
Liszewska
Frantz
F
Assunção
Ana G L
AG
Aarts
Mark G M
MG
Sirko
Agnieszka
A
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001151:Arsenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D001151:Arsenic; D005966:Glucuronidase; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; C114462:multidrug resistance-associated protein 3