Expression differences for genes involved in lignin, glutathione and sulphate metabolism in response to cadmium in Arabidopsis thaliana and the related Zn/Cd-hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens

• Published in: Plant, cell and environment Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 301 - 324
• Main Authors: VAN DE MORTEL, JUDITH E, SCHAT, HENK, MOERLAND, PERRY D, VAN THEMAAT, EMIEL VER LOREN, VAN DER ENT, SJOERD, BLANKESTIJN, HETTY, GHANDILYAN, ARTAK, TSIATSIANI, STYLIANI, AARTS, MARK G.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2008; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: abc transporters; accumulation; Arabidopsis - drug effects; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arabidopsis thaliana; Biological and medical sciences; Cadmium - metabolism; Cadmium - pharmacology; comparative genomics; domain proteins; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant - drug effects; Genes, Plant; Genes. Genome; glucosinolate biosynthesis; Glutathione - metabolism; heavy metal accumulation; heavy-metal detoxification; heterologous microarray; Iron - metabolism; Iron - pharmacology; Lignin - metabolism; metallicolous populations; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Nickel - metabolism; Nickel - pharmacology; nickel hyperaccumulators; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; profiling analyses; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; salicylic-acid; Sulfates - metabolism; Thlaspi - drug effects; Thlaspi - metabolism; Thlaspi caerulescens; transcription factor; transcription factors; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects; Zinc - metabolism; Zinc - pharmacology; Thlaspi; Lignin; transcription factors; Genomics; Metabolism; heavy metal accumulation; comparative genomics; Heavy metal; Arabidopsis thaliana; Gene; Cruciferae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; heterologous microarray; Transcription factor
• ISSN: 0140-7791; 1365-3040
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2007.01764.x

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread, naturally occurring element present in soil, rock, water, plants and animals. Cd is a non-essential element for plants and is toxic at higher concentrations. Transcript profiles of roots of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) and Thlaspi caerulescens plants exposed to Cd and zinc (Zn) are examined, with the main aim to determine the differences in gene expression between the Cd-tolerant Zn-hyperaccumulator T. caerulescens and the Cd-sensitive non-accumulator Arabidopsis. This comparative transcriptional analysis emphasized the role of genes involved in lignin, glutathione and sulphate metabolism. Furthermore the transcription factors MYB72 and bHLH100 were studied for their involvement in metal homeostasis, as they showed an altered expression after exposure to Cd. The Arabidopsis myb72 knockout mutant was more sensitive to excess Zn or iron (Fe) deficiency than wild type, while Arabidopsis transformants overexpressing bHLH100 showed increased tolerance to high Zn and nickel (Ni) compared to wild-type plants, confirming their role in metal homeostasis in Arabidopsis.