Type 1 Metallothionein (ZjMT) Is Responsible for Heavy Metal Tolerance in 'Ziziphus jujuba'

Title
Type 1 Metallothionein (ZjMT) Is Responsible for Heavy Metal Tolerance in 'Ziziphus jujuba'
Publication Date
2016
Author(s)
Li, Lan-Song
Meng, Yu-Ping
Cao, Qiu-Feng
Yang, Yong-Zhen
Wang, Fan
Jia, Hu-Sheng
Wu, Shubiao
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1790-6015
Email: swu3@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:swu3
Liu, Xu-Guang
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
MAIK Nauka - Interperiodica
Place of publication
Russia
DOI
10.1134/S000629791606002X
UNE publication id
une:19454
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.
Link
Citation
Biochemistry (Moscow), 81(6), p. 565-573
ISSN
1608-3040
0006-2979
Start page
565
End page
573

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