Transcriptional regulation of metal transport genes and mineral nutrition during acclimatization to cadmium and zinc in the Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator, Thlaspi caerulescens (Ganges population).
We investigated changes in mineral nutrient uptake and cellular expression levels for metal transporter genes in the cadmium (Cd)/zinc (Zn) hyperaccumulator, Thlaspi caerulescens during whole plant and leaf ontogenesis under different long-term treatments with Zn and Cd. Quantitative mRNA in situ hybridization (QISH) revealed that transporter gene expression changes not only dependent on metal nutrition/toxicity, but even more so during plant and leaf development. The main mRNA abundances found were: ZNT1, mature leaves of young plants; ZNT5, young leaves of young plants; MTP1 (= ZTP1 = ZAT), young leaves of both young and mature plants. Surprisingly different cellular expression patterns were found for ZNT1 and ZNT5, both belonging to the ZIP family of transition metal transporters: ZNT1, photosynthetic mesophyll and bundle sheath cells; ZNT5, nonphotosynthetic epidermal metal storage cells and bundle sheath cells. Thus, ZNT1 may function in micronutrient nutrition while ZNT5 may be involved in metal storage associated with hyperaccumulation. Cadmium inhibited the uptake of Zn, iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), probably by competing for transporters or by interfering with the regulation of transporter gene expression. Cadmium-induced changes in cellular expression for ZNT1, ZNT5 and MTP1 could also be part of plant acclimatization to Cd toxicity. Defence against Cd toxicity involved enhanced uptake of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and sulphur (S).
Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. hendrik.kuepper@uni-konstanz.de
Hendrik
H
Küpper
Leon V
LV
Kochian
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000235:genetics*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000235:genetics; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D031227:Thlaspi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008903:Minerals; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002104:Cadmium; D015032:Zinc