Abstract
During evolution, zinc was recruited for a wide range of biochemical functions in cells. About 8% of the proteins in a plant are Zn-binding. Among them are members of all six enzyme classes and myriad regulatory proteins. Zn is required in all cellular compartments. High affinity of Zn(II) to various functional groups requires a multitude of transport and chelation processes to ensure trafficking of Zn to target sites both at the cellular and the organismal level. Detailed mechanistic understanding of Zn mobilization in the soil, uptake into a plant cell, and cytosolic buffering is still limited. More is known about Zn tolerance, storage, and long-distance translocation. Molecular dissection of Zn distribution and accumulation in plants will be important also to enable breeding of higher Zn content of crops. Zn deficiency in humans is widespread and is estimated to affect more than 25% of the world’s population.
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Clemens, S. (2010). Zn – A Versatile Player in Plant Cell Biology. In: Hell, R., Mendel, RR. (eds) Cell Biology of Metals and Nutrients. Plant Cell Monographs, vol 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10613-2_12
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