Arsenic transport and interaction with plant metabolism: Clues for improving agricultural productivity and food safety

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2021-12, Vol.290, p.117987-117987, Article 117987
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jie, Hamza, Ameer, Xie, Zuoming, Hussain, Sajad, Brestic, Marian, Tahir, Mukkram Ali, Ulhassan, Zaid, Yu, Min, Allakhverdiev, Suleyman I., Shabala, Sergey
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquaporins; Arsenate; Arsenite phosphate transporters; Environmental pollution; Phytochelatin; Sequestration
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117987

Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous metalloid that is highly toxic to all living organisms. When grown in As-contaminated soils, plants may accumulate significant amounts of As in the grains or edible shoot parts which then enter a food chain. Plant growth and development per se are also both affected by arsenic. These effects are traditionally attributed to As-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a consequent lipid peroxidation and damage to cellular membranes. However, this view is oversimplified, as As exposure have a major impact on many metabolic processes in plants, including availability of essential nutrients, photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, protein metabolism, and sulfur metabolism. This review is aimed to fill this gap in the knowledge. In addition, the molecular basis of arsenic uptake and transport in plants and prospects of creating low As-accumulating crop species, for both agricultural productivity and food safety, are discussed. [Display omitted] •Arsenic is highly toxic to all living organisms.•Arsenic toxicity is traditionally associated with a damage to cellular membranes.•Arsenic also affects availability of essential nutrients and cell metabolism.•The molecular basis of arsenic uptake and transport in plants is summarized.•The prospects of creating low As-accumulating crop species are discussed.