International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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11 pages, 2529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Conditions Influence Induction of Key ABC-Transporter Genes Affecting Glyphosate Resistance Mechanism in Conyza canadensis

by Eleni Tani, Demosthenis Chachalis, Ilias S. Travlos and Dimitrios Bilalis

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17(4), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17040342 - 20 Apr 2016

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6427

Abstract

Conyza canadensis has been reported to be the most frequent weed species that evolved resistance to glyphosate in various parts of the world. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of environmental conditions (temperature and light) on the expression [...] Read more.

Conyza canadensis has been reported to be the most frequent weed species that evolved resistance to glyphosate in various parts of the world. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of environmental conditions (temperature and light) on the expression levels of the EPSPS gene and two major ABC-transporter genes (M10 and M11) on glyphosate susceptible (GS) and glyphosate resistant (GR) horseweed populations, collected from several regions across Greece. Real-time PCR was conducted to determine the expression level of the aforementioned genes when glyphosate was applied at normal (1×; 533 g·a.e.·ha⁻¹) and high rates (4×, 8×), measured at an early one day after treatment (DAT) and a later stage (four DAT) of expression. Plants were exposed to light or dark conditions, at three temperature regimes (8, 25, 35 °C). GR plants were made sensitive when exposed to 8 °C with light; those sensitized plants behaved biochemically (shikimate accumulation) and molecularly (expression of EPSPS and ABC-genes) like the GS plants. Results from the current study show the direct link between the environmental conditions and the induction level of the above key genes that likely affect the efficiency of the proposed mechanism of glyphosate resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells)

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11 pages, 3924 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Profiling of Louisiana iris Root and Identification of Genes Involved in Lead-Stress Response

by Songqing Tian, Chunsun Gu, Liangqin Liu, Xudong Zhu, Yanhai Zhao and Suzhen Huang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(12), 28087-28097; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms161226084 - 25 Nov 2015

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7226

Abstract

Louisiana iris is tolerant to and accumulates the heavy metal lead (Pb). However, there is limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind this feature. We describe the transcriptome of Louisiana iris using Illumina sequencing technology. The root transcriptome of Louisiana iris under control [...] Read more.

Louisiana iris is tolerant to and accumulates the heavy metal lead (Pb). However, there is limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind this feature. We describe the transcriptome of Louisiana iris using Illumina sequencing technology. The root transcriptome of Louisiana iris under control and Pb-stress conditions was sequenced. Overall, 525,498 transcripts representing 313,958 unigenes were assembled using the clean raw reads. Among them, 43,015 unigenes were annotated and their functions classified using the euKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) database. They were divided into 25 molecular families. In the Gene Ontology (GO) database, 50,174 unigenes were categorized into three GO trees (molecular function, cellular component and biological process). After analysis of differentially expressed genes, some Pb-stress-related genes were selected, including biosynthesis genes of chelating compounds, metal transporters, transcription factors and antioxidant-related genes. This study not only lays a foundation for further studies on differential genes under Pb stress, but also facilitates the molecular breeding of Louisiana iris. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells)

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21 pages, 2251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increased Uptake of Chelated Copper Ions by Lolium perenne Attributed to Amplified Membrane and Endodermal Damage

by Anthea Johnson and Naresh Singhal

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(10), 25264-25284; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms161025264 - 23 Oct 2015

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6899

Abstract

The contributions of mechanisms by which chelators influence metal translocation to plant shoot tissues are analyzed using a combination of numerical modelling and physical experiments. The model distinguishes between apoplastic and symplastic pathways of water and solute movement. It also includes the barrier [...] Read more.

The contributions of mechanisms by which chelators influence metal translocation to plant shoot tissues are analyzed using a combination of numerical modelling and physical experiments. The model distinguishes between apoplastic and symplastic pathways of water and solute movement. It also includes the barrier effects of the endodermis and plasma membrane. Simulations are used to assess transport pathways for free and chelated metals, identifying mechanisms involved in chelate-enhanced phytoextraction. Hypothesized transport mechanisms and parameters specific to amendment treatments are estimated, with simulated results compared to experimental data. Parameter values for each amendment treatment are estimated based on literature and experimental values, and used for model calibration and simulation of amendment influences on solute transport pathways and mechanisms. Modeling indicates that chelation alters the pathways for Cu transport. For free ions, Cu transport to leaf tissue can be described using purely apoplastic or transcellular pathways. For strong chelators (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)), transport by the purely apoplastic pathway is insufficient to represent measured Cu transport to leaf tissue. Consistent with experimental observations, increased membrane permeability is required for simulating translocation in EDTA and DTPA treatments. Increasing the membrane permeability is key to enhancing phytoextraction efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells)

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13 pages, 5391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of a Type 1 Metallothionein Gene from the Stresses-Tolerant Plant Ziziphus jujuba

by Mingxia Yang, Fan Zhang, Fan Wang, Zhigang Dong, Qiufen Cao and Mingchang Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(8), 16750-16762; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms160816750 - 23 Jul 2015

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 7037

Abstract

Plant metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of low molecular weight, cysteine-rich, and metal-binding proteins, which play an important role in the detoxification of heavy metal ions, osmotic stresses, and hormone treatment. Sequence analysis revealed that the open-reading frame (ORF) of ZjMT was 225 [...] Read more.

Plant metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of low molecular weight, cysteine-rich, and metal-binding proteins, which play an important role in the detoxification of heavy metal ions, osmotic stresses, and hormone treatment. Sequence analysis revealed that the open-reading frame (ORF) of ZjMT was 225 bp, which encodes a protein composed of 75 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 7.376 kDa and a predicated isoelectric point (pI) of 4.83. ZjMT belongs to the type I MT, which consists of two highly conserved cysteine-rich terminal domains linked by a cysteine free region. Our studies showed that ZjMT was primarily localized in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of cells and ZjMT expression was up-regulated by NaCl, CdCl₂ and polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatments. Constitutive expression of ZjMT in wild type Arabidopsis plants enhanced their tolerance to NaCl stress during the germination stage. Compared with the wild type, transgenic plants accumulate more Cd²⁺ in root, but less in leaf, suggesting that ZjMT may have a function in Cd²⁺ retension in roots and, therefore, decrease the toxicity of Cd²⁺. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells)

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20 pages, 4543 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chromium-Induced Ultrastructural Changes and Oxidative Stress in Roots of Arabidopsis thaliana

by Eleftherios P. Eleftheriou, Ioannis-Dimosthenis S. Adamakis, Emmanuel Panteris and Maria Fatsiou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(7), 15852-15871; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms160715852 - 13 Jul 2015

Cited by 113 | Viewed by 16752

Abstract

Chromium (Cr) is an abundant heavy metal in nature, toxic to living organisms. As it is widely used in industry and leather tanning, it may accumulate locally at high concentrations, raising concerns for human health hazards. Though Cr effects have extensively been investigated [...] Read more.

Chromium (Cr) is an abundant heavy metal in nature, toxic to living organisms. As it is widely used in industry and leather tanning, it may accumulate locally at high concentrations, raising concerns for human health hazards. Though Cr effects have extensively been investigated in animals and mammals, in plants they are poorly understood. The present study was then undertaken to determine the ultrastructural malformations induced by hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], the most toxic form provided as 100 μM potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇), in the root tip cells of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. A concentration-dependent decrease of root growth and a time-dependent increase of dead cells, callose deposition, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production and peroxidase activity were found in Cr(VI)-treated seedlings, mostly at the transition root zone. In the same zone, nuclei remained ultrastructurally unaffected, but in the meristematic zone some nuclei displayed bulbous outgrowths or contained tubular structures. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was less affected under Cr(VI) stress, but Golgi bodies appeared severely disintegrated. Moreover, mitochondria and plastids became spherical and displayed translucent stroma with diminished internal membranes, but noteworthy is that their double-membrane envelopes remained structurally intact. Starch grains and electron dense deposits occurred in the plastids. Amorphous material was also deposited in the cell walls, the middle lamella and the vacuoles. Some vacuoles were collapsed, but the tonoplast appeared integral. The plasma membrane was structurally unaffected and the cytoplasm contained opaque lipid droplets and dense electron deposits. All electron dense deposits presumably consisted of Cr that is sequestered from sensitive sites, thus contributing to metal tolerance. It is concluded that the ultrastructural changes are reactive oxygen species (ROS)-correlated and the malformations observed are organelle specific. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells)

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18 pages, 5840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leaf Age-Dependent Photoprotective and Antioxidative Response Mechanisms to Paraquat-Induced Oxidative Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana

by Julietta Moustaka, Georgia Tanou, Ioannis-Dimosthenis Adamakis, Eleftherios P. Eleftheriou and Michael Moustakas

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(6), 13989-14006; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms160613989 - 18 Jun 2015

Cited by 88 | Viewed by 9904

Abstract

Exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana young and mature leaves to the herbicide paraquat (Pq) resulted in a localized increase of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the leaf veins and the neighboring mesophyll cells, but this increase was not similar in the [...] Read more.

Exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana young and mature leaves to the herbicide paraquat (Pq) resulted in a localized increase of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the leaf veins and the neighboring mesophyll cells, but this increase was not similar in the two leaf types. Increased H₂O₂ production was concomitant with closed reaction centers (q_P). Thirty min after Pq exposure despite the induction of the photoprotective mechanism of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in mature leaves, H₂O₂ production was lower in young leaves mainly due to the higher increase activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Later, 60 min after Pq exposure, the total antioxidant capacity of young leaves was not sufficient to scavenge the excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) that were formed, and thus, a higher H₂O₂ accumulation in young leaves occurred. The energy allocation of absorbed light in photosystem II (PSII) suggests the existence of a differential photoprotective regulatory mechanism in the two leaf types to the time-course Pq exposure accompanied by differential antioxidant protection mechanisms. It is concluded that tolerance to Pq-induced oxidative stress is related to the redox state of quinone A (Q_A). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells)

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22 pages, 8268 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subcellular Sequestration and Impact of Heavy Metals on the Ultrastructure and Physiology of the Multicellular Freshwater Alga Desmidium swartzii

by Ancuela Andosch, Margit Höftberger, Cornelius Lütz and Ursula Lütz-Meindl

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(5), 10389-10410; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms160510389 - 7 May 2015

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 7337 | Correction

Abstract

Due to modern life with increasing traffic, industrial production and agricultural practices, high amounts of heavy metals enter ecosystems and pollute soil and water. As a result, metals can be accumulated in plants and particularly in algae inhabiting peat bogs of low pH [...] Read more.

Due to modern life with increasing traffic, industrial production and agricultural practices, high amounts of heavy metals enter ecosystems and pollute soil and water. As a result, metals can be accumulated in plants and particularly in algae inhabiting peat bogs of low pH and high air humidity. In the present study, we investigated the impact and intracellular targets of aluminum, copper, cadmium, chromium VI and zinc on the filamentous green alga Desmidium swartzii, which is an important biomass producer in acid peat bogs. By means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) it is shown that all metals examined are taken up into Desmidium readily, where they are sequestered in cell walls and/or intracellular compartments. They cause effects on cell ultrastructure to different degrees and additionally disturb photosynthetic activity and biomass production. Our study shows a clear correlation between toxicity of a metal and the ability of the algae to compartmentalize it intracellularly. Cadmium and chromium, which are not compartmentalized, exert the most toxic effects. In addition, this study shows that the filamentous alga Desmidium reacts more sensitively to aluminum and zinc when compared to its unicellular relative Micrasterias, indicating a severe threat to the ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells)

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14 pages, 1041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Functional Analysis of MicroRNAs and Their Targets in Platanus acerifolia under Lead (Pb) Stress

by Yuanlong Wang, Zhenli Zhao, Minjie Deng, Rongning Liu, Suyan Niu and Guoqiang Fan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(4), 7098-7111; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms16047098 - 30 Mar 2015

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6353

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important regulatory roles in development and stress responses in plants. Lead (Pb) is a non-essential element that is highly toxic to living organisms. Platanus acerifolia is grown as a street tree in cities throughout temperate regions for its importance in [...] Read more.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important regulatory roles in development and stress responses in plants. Lead (Pb) is a non-essential element that is highly toxic to living organisms. Platanus acerifolia is grown as a street tree in cities throughout temperate regions for its importance in improving the urban ecological environment. MiRNAs that respond to abiotic stresses have been identified in plants; however, until now, the influence of Pb stress on P. acerifolia miRNAs has not been reported. To identify miRNAs and predict their target genes under Pb stress, two small RNA and two degradome libraries were constructed from Pb-treated and Pb-free leaves of P. acerifolia seedlings. After sequencing, 55 known miRNAs and 129 novel miRNAs were obtained, and 104 target genes for the miRNAs were identified by degradome sequencing. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were performed to predict the functions of the targets. The expressions of eight differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). This is the first report about P. acerifolia miRNAs and their target genes under Pb stress. This study has provided data for further research into molecular mechanisms involved in resistance of P. acerifolia to Pb stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells)

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