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Recent advances in physiological and molecular mechanisms of heavy metal accumulation in plants

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Abstract

Among abiotic stress, the toxicity of metals impacts negatively on plants’ growth and productivity. This toxicity promotes various perturbations in plants at different levels. To withstand stress, plants involve efficient mechanisms through the implication of various signaling pathways. These pathways enhance the expression of many target genes among them gene coding for metal transporters. Various metal transporters which are localized at the plasma membrane and/or at the tonoplast are crucial in metal stress response. Furthermore, metal detoxification is provided by metal-binding proteins like phytochelatins and metallothioneins. The understanding of the molecular basis of metal toxicities signaling pathways and tolerance mechanisms is crucial for genetic engineering to produce transgenic plants that enhance phytoremediation. This review presents an overview of the recent advances in our understanding of metal stress response. Firstly, we described the effect of metal stress on plants. Then, we highlight the mechanisms involved in metal detoxification and the importance of the regulation in the response to heavy metal stress. Finally, we mentioned the importance of genetic engineering for enhancing the phytoremediation technique. In the end, the response to heavy metal stress is complex and implicates various components. Thus, further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms involved in response to this abiotic stress.

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Availability of data and materials

The data supporting this review are from previously reported studies, which have been cited in this manuscript.

Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

ACC:

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

ACO:

ACC oxidase

ACS:

ACC synthases

AMF:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

CaMs:

Calmodulins

CBLs:

Calcineurin B-like proteins

CDF:

Cation diffusion facilitator transporter

CDPKs:

Ca2+-dependent protein kinases

CIPK:

CBL-interacting proteins kinases

CTR1:

Constitutive triple response 1

DRE:

Dehydration-responsive elements

DREB:

Drought-responsive elements binding

ERF:

Ethylene-responsive factors

ET:

Ethylene

ETR1:

Ethylene resistant 1

GST:

Glutathione S-transferase

HSPs:

Heat shock proteins

HMAs:

Heavy metal transport ATPases

JA:

Jasmonate

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

MTP:

Metal tolerance protein

MTs:

Metallothioneins

Nramp:

Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein

PCs:

Phytochelatins

PGPR:

Beneficial plant growth-promoting bacteria

QTL:

Quantitative trait loci

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SAM:

S-Adenosyl-methionine

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Funding

This work was supported through funding by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Legumes and Sustainable Agrosystem (L2AD), Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cédria, BP901, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Kaouthar Feki, Moncef Mrabet & Haythem Mhadhbi

  2. Biotechnology and Plant Improvement Laboratory, Center of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, B.P “1177”, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Sana Tounsi & Faiçal Brini

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  1. Kaouthar Feki
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  2. Sana Tounsi
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Contributions

K.F., H.M., and F.B. conceived and designed the content of the review. M.M. and H.M. proposed valuable ideas and opinions. K.F. and S.T. wrote the manuscript and prepared the figure photos. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Faiçal Brini.

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Feki, K., Tounsi, S., Mrabet, M. et al. Recent advances in physiological and molecular mechanisms of heavy metal accumulation in plants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 64967–64986 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16805-y

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