Cadmium partitioning in transgenic tobacco plants expressing a mammalian metallothionein gene

Among the plant species cultivated for human consumption, tobacco is one that accumulates cadmium to a significant degree. In order to reduce the Cd levels in tobacco leaves, we have introduced into the tobacco genome a gene encoding a mammalian metallothionein, since these low-molecular-weight cyst...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular breeding 1998-01, Vol.4 (2), p.83-90
Main Authors: Dorlhac de Borne, F. (Institut du Tabac SEITA, Bergerac (France).), Elmayan, T, Roton, C. de, Hys, L. de, Tepfer, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology
CADMIO
CADMIUM
EXPRESION GENICA
EXPRESSION DES GENES
GENE EXPRESSION
Gene silencing
Genetic transformation
Genomes
Heavy metals
Leaves
Life Sciences
Mammals
METALLOPROTEINE
METALLOPROTEINS
Metallothionein
METALPROTEINAS
Molecular biology
NICOTIANA TABACUM
Plant biology
Plant species
PLANTAS TRANSGENICAS
PLANTE TRANSGENIQUE
Post-transcription
THIONEINE
THIONEINS
TIONEINA
Tobacco
TRANSGENIC PLANTS
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Summary:Among the plant species cultivated for human consumption, tobacco is one that accumulates cadmium to a significant degree. In order to reduce the Cd levels in tobacco leaves, we have introduced into the tobacco genome a gene encoding a mammalian metallothionein, since these low-molecular-weight cysteine-rich proteins fix Cd and other heavy metals. Here we describe the Cd accumulation characteristics observed during two years of greenhouse tests and one year of field trial of tobacco plants expressing a metallothionein gene. In all three tests, leaf Cd levels were markedly decreased. For instance, in the field trial, Cd levels in the leaf lamina tissue of the transformed line were decreased by 73% compared to controls. The decrease in leaf Cd was correlated with an increase in Cd in the roots and stems. The plants had normal growth characteristics, and the distribution of other ions was not affected by the expression of the metallothionein gene. Even though the transformation/expression vector used here can cause frequent post-transcriptional gene silencing, comparison of hemizygous and homozygous individuals of the plant line expressing the metallothionein gene gave little evidence for silencing.
ISSN:1380-3743
1572-9788
DOI:10.1023/A:1009669412489