Melatonin Confers Plant Cadmium Tolerance: An Update
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most injurious heavy metals, affecting plant growth and development. Melatonin (<i>N</i>-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) was discovered in plants in 1995, and it is since known to act as a multifunctional molecule to alleviate abiotic and biotic stresses, especiall...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/21/11704 |
| _version_ | 1797512450147352576 |
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| author | Quan Gu Chuyan Wang Qingqing Xiao Ziping Chen Yi Han |
| author_facet | Quan Gu Chuyan Wang Qingqing Xiao Ziping Chen Yi Han |
| author_sort | Quan Gu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most injurious heavy metals, affecting plant growth and development. Melatonin (<i>N</i>-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) was discovered in plants in 1995, and it is since known to act as a multifunctional molecule to alleviate abiotic and biotic stresses, especially Cd stress. Endogenously triggered or exogenously applied melatonin re-establishes the redox homeostasis by the improvement of the antioxidant defense system. It can also affect the Cd transportation and sequestration by regulating the transcripts of genes related to the major metal transport system, as well as the increase in glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs). Melatonin activates several downstream signals, such as nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>), and salicylic acid (SA), which are required for plant Cd tolerance. Similar to the physiological functions of NO, hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is also involved in the abiotic stress-related processes in plants. Moreover, exogenous melatonin induces H<sub>2</sub>S generation in plants under salinity or heat stress. However, the involvement of H<sub>2</sub>S action in melatonin-induced Cd tolerance is still largely unknown. In this review, we summarize the progresses in various physiological and molecular mechanisms regulated by melatonin in plants under Cd stress. The complex interactions between melatonin and H<sub>2</sub>S in acquisition of Cd stress tolerance are also discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:01:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c06b8ebdc8294305b81a68881cce4dfe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:01:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c06b8ebdc8294305b81a68881cce4dfe2023-11-22T20:56:32ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-10-0122211170410.3390/ijms222111704Melatonin Confers Plant Cadmium Tolerance: An UpdateQuan Gu0Chuyan Wang1Qingqing Xiao2Ziping Chen3Yi Han4School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistence Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaCadmium (Cd) is one of the most injurious heavy metals, affecting plant growth and development. Melatonin (<i>N</i>-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) was discovered in plants in 1995, and it is since known to act as a multifunctional molecule to alleviate abiotic and biotic stresses, especially Cd stress. Endogenously triggered or exogenously applied melatonin re-establishes the redox homeostasis by the improvement of the antioxidant defense system. It can also affect the Cd transportation and sequestration by regulating the transcripts of genes related to the major metal transport system, as well as the increase in glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs). Melatonin activates several downstream signals, such as nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>), and salicylic acid (SA), which are required for plant Cd tolerance. Similar to the physiological functions of NO, hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is also involved in the abiotic stress-related processes in plants. Moreover, exogenous melatonin induces H<sub>2</sub>S generation in plants under salinity or heat stress. However, the involvement of H<sub>2</sub>S action in melatonin-induced Cd tolerance is still largely unknown. In this review, we summarize the progresses in various physiological and molecular mechanisms regulated by melatonin in plants under Cd stress. The complex interactions between melatonin and H<sub>2</sub>S in acquisition of Cd stress tolerance are also discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/21/11704antioxidant defense systemsCd stresshydrogen sulfidemelatoninoxidative stresstransportation and sequestration |
| spellingShingle | Quan Gu Chuyan Wang Qingqing Xiao Ziping Chen Yi Han Melatonin Confers Plant Cadmium Tolerance: An Update International Journal of Molecular Sciences antioxidant defense systems Cd stress hydrogen sulfide melatonin oxidative stress transportation and sequestration |
| title | Melatonin Confers Plant Cadmium Tolerance: An Update |
| title_full | Melatonin Confers Plant Cadmium Tolerance: An Update |
| title_fullStr | Melatonin Confers Plant Cadmium Tolerance: An Update |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melatonin Confers Plant Cadmium Tolerance: An Update |
| title_short | Melatonin Confers Plant Cadmium Tolerance: An Update |
| title_sort | melatonin confers plant cadmium tolerance an update |
| topic | antioxidant defense systems Cd stress hydrogen sulfide melatonin oxidative stress transportation and sequestration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/21/11704 |
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