Selective chemical binding enhances cesium tolerance in plants through inhibition of cesium uptake.
High concentrations of cesium (Cs(+)) inhibit plant growth but the detailed mechanisms of Cs(+) uptake, transport and response in plants are not well known. In order to identify small molecules with a capacity to enhance plant tolerance to Cs(+), chemical library screening was performed using Arabidopsis. Of 10,000 chemicals tested, five compounds were confirmed as Cs(+) tolerance enhancers. Further investigation and quantum mechanical modelling revealed that one of these compounds reduced Cs(+) concentrations in plants and that the imidazole moiety of this compound bound specifically to Cs(+). Analysis of the analogous compounds indicated that the structure of the identified compound is important for the effect to be conferred. Taken together, Cs(+) tolerance enhancer isolated here renders plants tolerant to Cs(+) by inhibiting Cs(+) entry into roots via specific binding to the ion thus, for instance, providing a basis for phytostabilisation of radiocesium-contaminated farmland.
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.
Eri
E
Adams
MEMPHYS, Center for BioMembrane Physics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M 5230, Denmark.
Vitaly
V
Chaban
MEMPHYS, Center for BioMembrane Physics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M 5230, Denmark.
Himanshu
H
Khandelia
RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.
Ryoung
R
Shin
D002586:Cesium / Q000378:metabolism*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D055049:Salt Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries
D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; D002586:Cesium