Enhanced phytoremediation of mixed heavy metal (mercury)-organic pollutants (trichloroethylene) with transgenic alfalfa co-expressing glutathione S-transferase and human P450 2E1.
Soil contamination is a global environmental problem and many efforts have been made to find efficient remediation methods over the last decade. Moreover, remediation of mixed contaminated soils are more difficult. In the present study, transgenic alfalfa plants pKHCG co-expressing glutathione S-transferase (GST) and human P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) genes were used for phytoremediation of mixed mercury (Hg)-trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminants. Simultaneous expression of GST and CYP2E1 may produce a significant synergistic effect, and leads to improved resistance and accumulation to heavy metal-organic complex contaminants. Based on the tolerance and accumulation assays, pKHCG transgenic plants were more resistant to Hg/TCE complex pollutants and many folds higher in Hg/TCE-accumulation than the non-transgenic control plants in mixed contaminated soil. It is confirmed that GST and CYP2E1 co-expression may be a useful strategy to help achieve mixed heavy metal-organic pollutants phytoremediation.
Department of Pharmaceutics, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 53 Zhengzhou Road, PO Box 70, Qingdao 266042, China.
Yuanyuan
Y
Zhang
Junhong
J
Liu
Yuanming
Y
Zhou
Tingyun
T
Gong
Jing
J
Wang
Yinlin
Y
Ge
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 / Q000235:genetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D008628:Mercury
Accumulation; Glutathione S-transferase; Human CYP2E1; Mixed contaminated soil; Tolerance; Transgenic alfalfa plants