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Plasma membrane intrinsic protein OsPIP2;6 is involved in root-to-shoot arsenic translocation in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

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Abstract

Key Message

This study demonstrates the crucial role of OsPIP2;6 for translocation of arsenic from roots to shoots, which can decrease arsenic accumulation in rice for improved food safety.

Arsenic (As) contamination in food and water, primarily through rice consumption, poses a significant health risk due to its natural tendency to accumulate inorganic arsenic (iAs). Understanding As transport mechanisms is vital for producing As-free rice. This study investigates the role of rice plasma membrane intrinsic protein, OsPIP2;6, for AsIII tolerance and accumulation. RNAi-mediated suppression of OsPIP2;6 expression resulted in a substantial (35–65%) reduction in As accumulation in rice shoots, while root arsenic levels remained largely unaffected. Conversely, OsPIP2;6 overexpression led to 15–76% higher arsenic accumulation in shoots, with no significant change in root As content. In mature plants, RNAi suppression caused (19–26%) decrease in shoot As, with flag leaves and grains showing a 16% reduction. OsPIP2;6 expression was detected in both roots and shoots, with higher transcript levels in shoots. Localization studies revealed its presence in vascular tissues of both roots and shoots. Overall, our findings highlight OsPIP2;6’s role in root-to-shoot As translocation, attributed to its specific localization in the vascular tissue of roots and leaves. This knowledge can facilitate the development of breeding programs to mitigate As accumulation in rice and other food crops for improved food safety and increasing productivity on As-contaminated soils.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture grant (USDA-NIFA-AFRI 2017-67013-26165) to OPD. The research support from the Cultural and Educational Bureau of the Egyptian Embassy, Washington DC (reference No: GM-1054) to AGM is also acknowledged. OPD also acknowledge the partial financial support from the USDA Hatch fund (MS #578).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    Ahmed G. Meselhy, Kareem Mosa, Sudesh Chhikara, Kundan Kumar & Om Parkash Dhankher

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Ahmed G. Meselhy & Kareem Mosa

  3. Department of Applied Biology, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    Kareem Mosa

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa, India

    Kundan Kumar

  5. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA

    Craig Musante & Jason C. White

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  1. Ahmed G. Meselhy
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  2. Kareem Mosa
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  3. Sudesh Chhikara
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Correspondence to Om Parkash Dhankher.

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Meselhy, A.G., Mosa, K., Chhikara, S. et al. Plasma membrane intrinsic protein OsPIP2;6 is involved in root-to-shoot arsenic translocation in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Plant Cell Rep 43, 64 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-024-03157-3

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