Type 1 metallothionein (ZjMT) is responsible for heavy metal tolerance in Ziziphus jujuba
- Authors: Li L.1,2, Meng Y.2, Cao Q.2,3, Yang Y.3, Wang F.2, Jia H.3, Wu S.2,4, Liu X.1,3
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Affiliations:
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Biotechnology Research Center
- Taiyuan University of Technology, Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials
- University of New England
- Issue: Vol 81, No 6 (2016)
- Pages: 565-573
- Section: Article
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/0006-2979/article/view/150898
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S000629791606002X
- ID: 150898
Cite item
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of low molecular weight, cysteine-rich, metal-binding proteins that are able to make cells to uptake heavy metals from the environment. Molecular and functional characterization of this gene family improves understanding of the mechanisms underlying heavy metal tolerance in higher organisms. In this study, a cDNA clone, encoding 74-a.a. metallothionein type 1 protein (ZjMT), was isolated from the cDNA library of Ziziphus jujuba. At the N- and C-terminals of the deduced amino acid sequence of ZjMT, six cysteine residues were arranged in a CXCXXXCXCXXXCXC and CXCXXXCXCXXCXC structure, respectively, indicating that ZjMT is a type 1 MT. Quantitative PCR analysis of plants subjected to cadmium stress showed enhanced expression of ZjMT gene in Z. jujuba within 24 h upon Cd exposure. Escherichia coli cells expressing ZjMT exhibited enhanced metal tolerance and higher accumulation of metal ions compared with control cells. The results indicate that ZjMT contributes to the detoxification of metal ions and provides marked tolerance against metal stresses. Therefore, ZjMT may be a potential candidate for tolerance enhancement in vulnerable plants to heavy metal stress and E. coli cells containing the ZjMT gene may be applied to adsorb heavy metals in polluted wastewater.
About the authors
Lan-Song Li
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Biotechnology Research Center
Email: liuxuguang@tyut.edu.cn
China, Taiyuan, 030024; Taiyuan, 030031
Yu-Ping Meng
Biotechnology Research Center
Email: liuxuguang@tyut.edu.cn
China, Taiyuan, 030031
Qiu-Fen Cao
Biotechnology Research Center; Taiyuan University of Technology, Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials
Email: liuxuguang@tyut.edu.cn
China, Taiyuan, 030031; Taiyuan, 030024
Yong-Zhen Yang
Taiyuan University of Technology, Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials
Email: liuxuguang@tyut.edu.cn
China, Taiyuan, 030024
Fan Wang
Biotechnology Research Center
Email: liuxuguang@tyut.edu.cn
China, Taiyuan, 030031
Hu-Sheng Jia
Taiyuan University of Technology, Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials
Email: liuxuguang@tyut.edu.cn
China, Taiyuan, 030024
Shu-Biao Wu
Biotechnology Research Center; University of New England
Email: liuxuguang@tyut.edu.cn
China, Taiyuan, 030031; Armidale, NSW 2351
Xu-Guang Liu
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Taiyuan University of Technology, Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials
Author for correspondence.
Email: liuxuguang@tyut.edu.cn
China, Taiyuan, 030024; Taiyuan, 030024