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Isolation of Zn-responsive genes from two accessions of the hyperaccumulator plant Thlaspi caerulescens

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Abstract

Several populations with different metal tolerance, uptake and root-to-shoot transport are known for the metal hyperaccumulator plant Thlaspi caerulescens. In this study, genes differentially expressed under various Zn exposures were identified from the shoots of two T. caerulescens accessions (calaminous and non-calaminous) using fluorescent differential display RT-PCR. cDNA fragments from 16 Zn-responsive genes, including those encoding metallothionein (MT) type 2 and type 3, MRP-like transporter, pectin methylesterase (PME) and Ole e 1-like gene as well as several unknown genes, were eventually isolated. The full-length MT2 and MT3 sequences differ from those previously isolated from other Thlaspi accessions, possibly representing new alleles or isoforms. Besides the differential expression in Zn exposures, the gene expression was dependent on the accession. Thlaspi homologues of ClpP protease and MRP transporter were induced at high Zn concentrations. MT2 and PME were expressed at higher levels in the calaminous accession. The MTs and MRP transporter expressed in transgenic yeasts were capable of conferring Cu and Cd tolerance, whereas the Ole e 1-like gene enhanced toxicity to these metals. The MTs increased yeast intracellular Cd content. As no significant differences were found between Arabidopsis and Thlaspi MTs, they apparently do not differ in their capacity to bind metals. However, the higher levels of MT2 in the calaminous accession may contribute to the Zn-adapted phenotype.

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Abbreviations

FDD:

Fluorescent differential display

MT:

Metallothionein

PME:

Pectin methylesterase

RT-PCR:

Reverse-transcription polymerase-chain reaction

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by SYTTY, the Finnish Research Programme on Environmental Health (project 42511), the Academy of Finland (project 53885) and EC FP5 project “PHYTAC” (QLRT-2001-00429). VHH was funded by the Finnish Graduate School for Environmental Science and Technology (EnSTe).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Applied Biotechnology, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    V. H. Hassinen, A. I. Tervahauta, P. Halimaa & S. O. Kärenlampi

  2. Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, GSF—National Research Center for Environment and Health, Oberschleissheim, Germany

    M. Plessl

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

    S. Peräniemi

  4. Ecology and Physiology of Plants, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    H. Schat

  5. Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M. G. M. Aarts

  6. North Savo Regional Environment Centre, Kuopio, Finland

    V. H. Hassinen & K. Servomaa

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  1. V. H. Hassinen
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  2. A. I. Tervahauta
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  3. P. Halimaa
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  5. S. Peräniemi
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  9. S. O. Kärenlampi
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Correspondence to S. O. Kärenlampi.

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Hassinen, V.H., Tervahauta, A.I., Halimaa, P. et al. Isolation of Zn-responsive genes from two accessions of the hyperaccumulator plant Thlaspi caerulescens . Planta 225, 977–989 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-006-0403-0

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