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PMID: 16240177 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

The plant MT1 metallothioneins are stabilized by binding cadmiums and are required for cadmium tolerance and accumulation.

Plant molecular biology ·Vol. 58 ·No. 6 ·2005-08-00 ·Pages 839-855

Zimeri AM, Dhankher OP, McCaig B, Meagher RB

Abstract

The small Arabidopsis genome contains nine metallothionein-like (MT) sequences with classic, cysteine-rich domains separated by spacer sequences, quite unlike the small conserved MT families found vertebrate genomes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed four ancient and divergent classes of plant MTs that predate the monocot-dicot divergence. A distinct cysteine spacing pattern suggested differential metal ion specificity for each class. The in vivo stability of representatives of the four classes of plant MT proteins and a mouse MT2 control expressed in E. coli were enhanced by cadmium (Cd). Particular MTs were also stabilized by arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and or zinc (Zn). To understand why plants have such a diversity of MT sequences, the Arabidopsis MT1 class, comprised of three genes, MT1a, MT1b, and MT1c, was characterized in more detail in plants. MT1 family transcripts were knocked down to less than 5-10% of wild-type levels in Arabidopsis by expression of a RNA interference (RNAi) construct. The MT1 knockdown plant lines were all hypersensitive to Cd and accumulated several fold lower levels of As, Cd, and Zn than wildtype, while Cu and Fe levels were unaffected. The ancient class of MT1 protein sequences may be preserved in plant genomes, because it has distinct metal-binding properties, confers tolerance to cadmium, and can assist with zinc homeostasis.

MeSH Terms
Animals Arabidopsis/drug effects,genetics,metabolism Arabidopsis Proteins/biosynthesis,genetics,metabolism Base Sequence Cadmium/metabolism,pharmacology Cloning, Molecular Escherichia coli/genetics Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics Metallothionein/biosynthesis,classification,genetics,metabolism Mice Molecular Sequence Data Multigene Family Phenotype Phylogeny RNA Interference Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Chemicals
Arabidopsis Proteins MT1A protein, Arabidopsis MT1b protein, Arabidopsis MT1c protein, Arabidopsis Cadmium Metallothionein
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Zimeri Anne Marie
Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. | Toxicology & Mycology Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Russell Research Center, Athens, GA, 30605, USA.
Dhankher Om Parkash
Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. | Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01002, USA.
McCaig Bonnie
D.O.E. Plant Research Laboratories, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Meagher Richard B
Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. meagher@uga.edu and zimeri@uga.edu.
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Article Info
Journal
Plant molecular biology
Abbr.
Plant Mol Biol
ISSN
0167-4412
DOI
10.1007/s11103-005-8268-3
Email
meagher@uga.edu
zimeri@uga.edu
Published
2005-08-00
Pages
839-855
Language
English
Region
Netherlands
NLM ID
9106343
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/s11103-005-8268-3 View journal details
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