Activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmium
Abstract Background Among cereals, durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) accumulates cadmium (Cd) at higher concentration if grown in Cd-polluted soils. Since cadmium accumulation is a risk for human health, the international trade organizations have limited the acceptable concentration of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-018-1473-4 |
| _version_ | 1828865041184587776 |
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| author | Alessio Aprile Erika Sabella Marzia Vergine Alessandra Genga Maria Siciliano Eliana Nutricati Patrizia Rampino Mariarosaria De Pascali Andrea Luvisi Antonio Miceli Carmine Negro Luigi De Bellis |
| author_facet | Alessio Aprile Erika Sabella Marzia Vergine Alessandra Genga Maria Siciliano Eliana Nutricati Patrizia Rampino Mariarosaria De Pascali Andrea Luvisi Antonio Miceli Carmine Negro Luigi De Bellis |
| author_sort | Alessio Aprile |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Among cereals, durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) accumulates cadmium (Cd) at higher concentration if grown in Cd-polluted soils. Since cadmium accumulation is a risk for human health, the international trade organizations have limited the acceptable concentration of Cd in edible crops. Therefore, durum wheat cultivars accumulating low cadmium in grains should be preferred by farmers and consumers. To identify the response of durum wheat to the presence of Cd, the transcriptomes of roots and shoots of Creso and Svevo cultivars were sequenced after a 50-day exposure to 0.5 μM Cd in hydroponic solution. Results No phytotoxic effects or biomass reduction was observed in Creso and Svevo plants at this Cd concentration. Despite this null effect, cadmium was accumulated in root tissues, in shoots and in grains suggesting a good cadmium translocation rate among tissues. The mRNA sequencing revealed a general transcriptome rearrangement after Cd treatment and more than 7000 genes were found differentially expressed in root and shoot tissues. Among these, the up-regulated genes in roots showed a clear correlation with cadmium uptake and detoxification. In particular, about three hundred genes were commonly up-regulated in Creso and Svevo roots suggesting a well defined molecular strategy characterized by the transcriptomic activation of several transcription factors mainly belonging to bHLH and WRKY families. bHLHs are probably the activators of the strong up-regulation of three NAS genes, responsible for the synthesis of the phytosiderophore nicotianamine (NA). Moreover, we found the overall up-regulation of the methionine salvage pathway that is tightly connected with NA synthesis and supply the S-adenosyl methionine necessary for NA biosynthesis. Finally, several vacuolar NA chelating heavy metal transporters were vigorously activated. Conclusions In conclusion, the exposure of durum wheat to cadmium activates in roots a complex gene network involved in cadmium translocation and detoxification from heavy metals. These findings are confident with a role of nicotianamine and methionine salvage pathway in the accumulation of cadmium in durum wheat. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:20:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-709656fb51444f31a2dd0708bfc21c8e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:20:07Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
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| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-709656fb51444f31a2dd0708bfc21c8e2022-12-21T23:59:47ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292018-10-0118111610.1186/s12870-018-1473-4Activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmiumAlessio Aprile0Erika Sabella1Marzia Vergine2Alessandra Genga3Maria Siciliano4Eliana Nutricati5Patrizia Rampino6Mariarosaria De Pascali7Andrea Luvisi8Antonio Miceli9Carmine Negro10Luigi De Bellis11Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of SalentoAbstract Background Among cereals, durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) accumulates cadmium (Cd) at higher concentration if grown in Cd-polluted soils. Since cadmium accumulation is a risk for human health, the international trade organizations have limited the acceptable concentration of Cd in edible crops. Therefore, durum wheat cultivars accumulating low cadmium in grains should be preferred by farmers and consumers. To identify the response of durum wheat to the presence of Cd, the transcriptomes of roots and shoots of Creso and Svevo cultivars were sequenced after a 50-day exposure to 0.5 μM Cd in hydroponic solution. Results No phytotoxic effects or biomass reduction was observed in Creso and Svevo plants at this Cd concentration. Despite this null effect, cadmium was accumulated in root tissues, in shoots and in grains suggesting a good cadmium translocation rate among tissues. The mRNA sequencing revealed a general transcriptome rearrangement after Cd treatment and more than 7000 genes were found differentially expressed in root and shoot tissues. Among these, the up-regulated genes in roots showed a clear correlation with cadmium uptake and detoxification. In particular, about three hundred genes were commonly up-regulated in Creso and Svevo roots suggesting a well defined molecular strategy characterized by the transcriptomic activation of several transcription factors mainly belonging to bHLH and WRKY families. bHLHs are probably the activators of the strong up-regulation of three NAS genes, responsible for the synthesis of the phytosiderophore nicotianamine (NA). Moreover, we found the overall up-regulation of the methionine salvage pathway that is tightly connected with NA synthesis and supply the S-adenosyl methionine necessary for NA biosynthesis. Finally, several vacuolar NA chelating heavy metal transporters were vigorously activated. Conclusions In conclusion, the exposure of durum wheat to cadmium activates in roots a complex gene network involved in cadmium translocation and detoxification from heavy metals. These findings are confident with a role of nicotianamine and methionine salvage pathway in the accumulation of cadmium in durum wheat.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-018-1473-4CadmiumPYEORG2FITMethionine salvage pathwayNicotianamine |
| spellingShingle | Alessio Aprile Erika Sabella Marzia Vergine Alessandra Genga Maria Siciliano Eliana Nutricati Patrizia Rampino Mariarosaria De Pascali Andrea Luvisi Antonio Miceli Carmine Negro Luigi De Bellis Activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmium BMC Plant Biology Cadmium PYE ORG2 FIT Methionine salvage pathway Nicotianamine |
| title | Activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmium |
| title_full | Activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmium |
| title_fullStr | Activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmium |
| title_short | Activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmium |
| title_sort | activation of a gene network in durum wheat roots exposed to cadmium |
| topic | Cadmium PYE ORG2 FIT Methionine salvage pathway Nicotianamine |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-018-1473-4 |
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