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Spatial distribution and speciation of copper in root tips of cucumber revealed by μ-XRF and μ-XANES

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The localization, biotransformation, and chemical speciation of copper in root tips of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were investigated using synchrotron-based micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and micro X-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES). The highest content of Cu was found in root cap and meristematic zone whereas low Cu content in elongation and maturation zone. There was a dramatic increase of Cu content in root cap and meristematic zone after treatment with 100 μM CuSO4 for 72 h. The μ-XANES analysis revealed that most of Cu in root tip was bound with alginate, citrate, and cysteine-like ligands whereas rarely deposited in form of CuO. From root cap to maturation zone, the proportion of Cu bound with alginate-like ligands increased whereas that bound with citrate-like ligands decreased. The proportion of Cu bound with cysteine-like ligands increased from root cap to elongation zone but sharply declined in maturation zone. The results suggested that Cu was chelated by S ligands in the cell walls which protect protoplasm against possible damage caused by Cu excess.

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Abbreviations

EXAFS:

extended X-ray absorption fine structure

MTs:

metallothioneins

PCs:

phytochelatins

SRXRF:

synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence

SSRF:

ShanghHai synchrotron radiation facility

μ-XRF:

micro X-ray fluorescence

μ-XANES:

micro X-ray absorption near edge structure

XAS:

X-ray absorption spectroscopy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P.R. China

    J. Song, Y. Q. Yang, S. H. Zhu, G. C. Chen, T. T. Liu & J. Y. Shi

  2. Beijing Construction Engineering Environmental Remediation Company, Beijing, 100045, P.R. China

    Y. Q. Yang

  3. College of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, P.R. China

    X. F. Yuan

  4. Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 201800, P.R. China

    X. H. Yu

Authors
  1. J. Song
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  2. Y. Q. Yang
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  3. S. H. Zhu
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  4. G. C. Chen
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  5. X. F. Yuan
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  6. T. T. Liu
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  7. X. H. Yu
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  8. J. Y. Shi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Y. Shi.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (R5110031), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21177109, 11179025), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-11-0455), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. This research was carried out at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF), China. The authors thank Dr. Hua Wang, Chengwen Mao, and Yang Ke for data collection.

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Song, J., Yang, Y.Q., Zhu, S.H. et al. Spatial distribution and speciation of copper in root tips of cucumber revealed by μ-XRF and μ-XANES. Biol Plant 57, 581–586 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-013-0317-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-013-0317-1

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