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Cited by 361Plant Stress Responses and ToleranceHeavy metals in environmentPlant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 197 of the 198 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Metal and Metalloid Toxicity in Plants: An Overview on Molecular Aspects

Open access
Angulo-Bejarano, Paola I., Puente-Rivera, Jonathan, Cruz-Ortega, Rocío·2021·Plants
DOI 10.3390/plants10040635PMC PMC8066251
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Abstract

Worldwide, the effects of metal and metalloid toxicity are increasing, mainly due to anthropogenic causes. Soil contamination ranks among the most important factors, since it affects crop yield, and the metals/metalloids can enter the food chain and undergo biomagnification, having concomitant effects on human health and alterations to the environment. Plants have developed complex mechanisms to overcome these biotic and abiotic stresses during evolution. Metals and metalloids exert several effects on plants generated by elements such as Zn, Cu, Al, Pb, Cd, and As, among others. The main strategies involve hyperaccumulation, tolerance, exclusion, and chelation with organic molecules. Recent studies in the omics era have increased knowledge on the plant genome and transcriptome plasticity to defend against these stimuli. The aim of the present review is to summarize relevant findings on the mechanisms by which plants take up, accumulate, transport, tolerate, and respond to this metal/metalloid stress. We also address some of the potential applications of biotechnology to improve plant tolerance or increase accumulation.

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Crossref · 10.3390/plants10040635

Cites

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Figures

Figure 1 Schematic representation of the physiological and molecular processes of absorption/translocation of metals into plants. The uptake of heavy metals ((e.g., Pb, Cd, As, Zn, etc.) (colored circles)) occurs through the root cells, where the presence or high concentration of these metals triggers different signaling pathways inside the cell. The metal sensing signals initiate a defense response in plants such as the release of mitochondrial-derived OAs that form complexes with the metallic ions outside the root cell (a), or the introduction of metals and metal–OA complexes to cells through transporters (ABC-type, ZIPs, CDF, ATPase H+ metal, etc.) (b). In the cytosol, these metals form complexes with protein chelators (MTs and PCs) (c) that are then transported into vacuoles, also by metal transporters (ABC-type, NRAMP, CAX, and MTP), to accumulate there or to another organelle such as the Golgi (d). Heavy metals also can be translocated to the xylem by transporters (ZIP2 and ZNT1) and ultimately transported to the shoots (e), where they can also be introduced into the cell vacuoles, Golgi (MTP11), and chloroplasts (HMA) by transporters (f). Orange circles represent organic acids (OAs). MT, metallothionein, PC, phytochelatin.
Figure 1 Schematic representation of the physiological and molecular processes of absorption/translocation of metals into plants. The uptake of heavy metals ((e.g., Pb, Cd, As, Zn, etc.) (colored circles)) occurs through the root cells, where the presence or high concentration of these metals triggers different signaling pathways inside the cell. The metal sensing signals initiate a defense response in plants such as the release of mitochondrial-derived OAs that form complexes with the metallic ions outside the root cell (a), or the introduction of metals and metal–OA complexes to cells through transporters (ABC-type, ZIPs, CDF, ATPase H+ metal, etc.) (b). In the cytosol, these metals form complexes with protein chelators (MTs and PCs) (c) that are then transported into vacuoles, also by metal transporters (ABC-type, NRAMP, CAX, and MTP), to accumulate there or to another organelle such as the Golgi (d). Heavy metals also can be translocated to the xylem by transporters (ZIP2 and ZNT1) and ultimately transported to the shoots (e), where they can also be introduced into the cell vacuoles, Golgi (MTP11), and chloroplasts (HMA) by transporters (f). Orange circles represent organic acids (OAs). MT, metallothionein, PC, phytochelatin.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 General diagram of the Gene Ontologies (GOs) of up- and downregulated genes under different metal stress conditions in plants by transcriptomic analysis. Venn diagram showing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) up- (green arrow) and down- (red arrow) regulated that belong to the GOs of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidative machinery, transporter-like genes (plasma membrane or vacuoles), metabolic pathways (such as the TCA cycle, which provides OAs) and phytohormonal genes in responses to As(V), Cd, Pb, and other metals. Colored circles: heavy metals, CHO: carbohydrates, TCA: tricarboxylic acid, APX: ascorbate peroxidase, ERF: Ethylene Response Factor, AUX/IAA: Auxin/Indole-3-Acetic Acid, ABP1: Auxin binding protein 1, TIR1: Transport inhibitor response 1, SAUR: small auxin upregulated RNA, OsSAUR21: auxin-responsive SAUR gene family member of Oryza sativa.
Figure 2 General diagram of the Gene Ontologies (GOs) of up- and downregulated genes under different metal stress conditions in plants by transcriptomic analysis. Venn diagram showing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) up- (green arrow) and down- (red arrow) regulated that belong to the GOs of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidative machinery, transporter-like genes (plasma membrane or vacuoles), metabolic pathways (such as the TCA cycle, which provides OAs) and phytohormonal genes in responses to As(V), Cd, Pb, and other metals. Colored circles: heavy metals, CHO: carbohydrates, TCA: tricarboxylic acid, APX: ascorbate peroxidase, ERF: Ethylene Response Factor, AUX/IAA: Auxin/Indole-3-Acetic Acid, ABP1: Auxin binding protein 1, TIR1: Transport inhibitor response 1, SAUR: small auxin upregulated RNA, OsSAUR21: auxin-responsive SAUR gene family member of Oryza sativa.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Ensley, B.D. (2000). Metal-Accumulating Plants. Phytoremediation of Toxic Metals: Using Plants to Clean Up the Environment, John Wiley & Son.
  2. 2018, Zinc Metalloenzymes in Plants, Interciencia, 43, 242
  3. Marschner, H. (2002). Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, Elsevier BV.
  4. Yadav, 2005, Methylglyoxal Detoxification by Glyoxalase System: A Survival Strategy during Environmental Stresses, Physiol. Mol. Biol. Plants, 11, 1

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Metadata

Authors
Angulo-Bejarano, P. I., Puente-Rivera, J., & Cruz-Ortega, R.
Affiliations
  • Laboratorio de Alelopatía, Departamento de Ecología Funcional, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, 275, Ciudad Universitaria D.F. Circuito Exterior s/n Anexo al Jardín Botánico Exterior, México City 04510, Mexico
  • Instituto de Ecología (MX)
ORCID
Puente-Rivera, Jonathan
Venue
Plants
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-03-27
Volume
10
Issue
4
Pages
635
ISSN
2223-7747 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/plants10040635
PMC
PMC8066251
OpenAlex
W3151778362
Cited by
357
References
198
Citations by year
2026: 48 · 2025: 86 · 2024: 102 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 10
FWCI
5.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Plants (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IN205912)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
Keywords
metal toxicity, metalloid toxicity, plant stress tolerance, hyperaccumulation, metal exclusion, metal chelation, metal transport, soil contamination, cadmium, lead, arsenic, zinc, copper, aluminum, biomagnification, plant biotechnology

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