The Interplay between Toxic and Essential Metals for Their Uptake and Translocation Is Likely Governed by DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation in Maize
The persistent nature of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in the environment severely affects plant growth and yield. Conversely, plants acquire zinc (Zn) from the soil for their vital physiological and biochemical functions. However, the interplay and coordination between essential and toxic metals for t...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/18/6959 |
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| author | Sarfraz Shafiq Asim Ali Yasar Sajjad Qudsia Zeb Muhammad Shahzad Abdul Rehman Khan Rashid Nazir Emilie Widemann |
| author_facet | Sarfraz Shafiq Asim Ali Yasar Sajjad Qudsia Zeb Muhammad Shahzad Abdul Rehman Khan Rashid Nazir Emilie Widemann |
| author_sort | Sarfraz Shafiq |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The persistent nature of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in the environment severely affects plant growth and yield. Conversely, plants acquire zinc (Zn) from the soil for their vital physiological and biochemical functions. However, the interplay and coordination between essential and toxic metals for their uptake and translocation and the putative underlying epigenetic mechanisms have not yet been investigated in maize. Here, we report that the presence of Zn facilitates the accumulation and transport of Pb and Cd in the aerial parts of the maize plants. Moreover, the Zn, Pb, and Cd interplay specifically interferes with the uptake and translocation of other divalent metals, such as calcium and magnesium. Zn, Pb, and Cd, individually and in combinations, differentially regulate the expression of DNA methyltransferases, thus alter the DNA methylation levels at the promoter of <i>Zinc-regulated transporters, Iron-regulated transporter-like Protein</i> (<i>ZIP</i>) genes to regulate their expression. Furthermore, the expression of histone deacetylases (<i>HDACs</i>) varies greatly in response to individual and combined metals, and <i>HDACs</i> expression showed a negative correlation with <i>ZIP</i> transporters. Our study highlights the implication of DNA methylation and histone acetylation in regulating the metal stress tolerance dynamics through Zn transporters and warns against the excessive use of Zn fertilizers in metal contaminated soils. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:09:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbb54760564c44e9916d930fa02eaec1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:09:15Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbb54760564c44e9916d930fa02eaec12023-11-20T14:40:21ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672020-09-012118695910.3390/ijms21186959The Interplay between Toxic and Essential Metals for Their Uptake and Translocation Is Likely Governed by DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation in MaizeSarfraz Shafiq0Asim Ali1Yasar Sajjad2Qudsia Zeb3Muhammad Shahzad4Abdul Rehman Khan5Rashid Nazir6Emilie Widemann7Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A5B8, CanadaDepartment of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, University Road, Tobe Camp, Abbottabad 22060, PakistanDepartment of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, University Road, Tobe Camp, Abbottabad 22060, PakistanDepartment of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, University Road, tobe Camp, Abbottabad 22060, PakistanDepartment of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, University Road, tobe Camp, Abbottabad 22060, PakistanDepartment of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, University Road, Tobe Camp, Abbottabad 22060, PakistanDepartment of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, University Road, tobe Camp, Abbottabad 22060, PakistanDepartment of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A5B8, CanadaThe persistent nature of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in the environment severely affects plant growth and yield. Conversely, plants acquire zinc (Zn) from the soil for their vital physiological and biochemical functions. However, the interplay and coordination between essential and toxic metals for their uptake and translocation and the putative underlying epigenetic mechanisms have not yet been investigated in maize. Here, we report that the presence of Zn facilitates the accumulation and transport of Pb and Cd in the aerial parts of the maize plants. Moreover, the Zn, Pb, and Cd interplay specifically interferes with the uptake and translocation of other divalent metals, such as calcium and magnesium. Zn, Pb, and Cd, individually and in combinations, differentially regulate the expression of DNA methyltransferases, thus alter the DNA methylation levels at the promoter of <i>Zinc-regulated transporters, Iron-regulated transporter-like Protein</i> (<i>ZIP</i>) genes to regulate their expression. Furthermore, the expression of histone deacetylases (<i>HDACs</i>) varies greatly in response to individual and combined metals, and <i>HDACs</i> expression showed a negative correlation with <i>ZIP</i> transporters. Our study highlights the implication of DNA methylation and histone acetylation in regulating the metal stress tolerance dynamics through Zn transporters and warns against the excessive use of Zn fertilizers in metal contaminated soils.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/18/6959phytotoxcityheavy metals interplayZn transporters (<i>ZIP</i>)DNA methylationhistone deacetylasesmaize |
| spellingShingle | Sarfraz Shafiq Asim Ali Yasar Sajjad Qudsia Zeb Muhammad Shahzad Abdul Rehman Khan Rashid Nazir Emilie Widemann The Interplay between Toxic and Essential Metals for Their Uptake and Translocation Is Likely Governed by DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation in Maize International Journal of Molecular Sciences phytotoxcity heavy metals interplay Zn transporters (<i>ZIP</i>) DNA methylation histone deacetylases maize |
| title | The Interplay between Toxic and Essential Metals for Their Uptake and Translocation Is Likely Governed by DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation in Maize |
| title_full | The Interplay between Toxic and Essential Metals for Their Uptake and Translocation Is Likely Governed by DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation in Maize |
| title_fullStr | The Interplay between Toxic and Essential Metals for Their Uptake and Translocation Is Likely Governed by DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation in Maize |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Interplay between Toxic and Essential Metals for Their Uptake and Translocation Is Likely Governed by DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation in Maize |
| title_short | The Interplay between Toxic and Essential Metals for Their Uptake and Translocation Is Likely Governed by DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation in Maize |
| title_sort | interplay between toxic and essential metals for their uptake and translocation is likely governed by dna methylation and histone deacetylation in maize |
| topic | phytotoxcity heavy metals interplay Zn transporters (<i>ZIP</i>) DNA methylation histone deacetylases maize |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/18/6959 |
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