Abstract
Cell suspension cultures of red spruce (
Picea rubens Sarg.) were selected to study the effects of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) on phytochelatins (PCs) and related metabolites after 24 h exposure. The PC
2 and its precursor, γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC) increased two to fourfold with Cd concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 200 µ-M as compared to the control. However Zn-treated cells showed a less than twofold increase in γ-EC and PC
2 levels as compared to the control even at the highest concentration of 800 µM. In addition, unidentified higher chain PCs were also found in both the Cd and Zn treated cells and they increased significantly with increasing concentrations of Cd and Zn. The cellular ratio of PC
2 : Cd or Zn content clearly indicated that Cd (with ratios ranging from 0.131 to 0.546) is a more effective inducer of PC
2 synthesis/accumulation than Zn (with ratios ranging from 0.032 to 0.102) in red spruce cells. A marginal decrease in glutathione (GSH) was observed in both Cd and Zn treated cells. However, the GSH precursor, cysteine, declined twofold with all Cd concentrations while the decrease with Zn was 1.5-2-fold only at the higher treatment concentrations of Zn as compared to control. In addition, changes in other free amino acids, polyamines, and inorganic ions were also studied. These results suggest that PCs and their biosynthetic intermediates play a significant role in red spruce cells protecting against Cd and Zn toxicity.
Keywords
Amino acids,
cysteine,
γ,
-glutamylcysteine,
glutathione,
heavy metals,
HPLC,
inorganic ions,
metal detoxification,
polyamines
Citation
Thangavel, P.; Long, Stephanie; Minocha, Rakesh. 2007. Changes in phytochelatins and their biosynthetic intermediates in red spruce (
Picea rubens Sarg.) cell suspension cultures under cadmium and zinc stress. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture. 88: 201-216.