Colocalization of low-methylesterified pectins and Pb deposits in the apoplast of aspen roots exposed to lead

Abstract

Low-methylesterified homogalacturonans have been suggested to play a role in the binding and immobilization of Pb in CW. Using root apices of hybrid aspen, a plant with a high phytoremediation potential, as a model, we demonstrated that the in situ distribution pattern of low-methylesterified homogalacturonan, pectin epitope (JIM5-P), reflects the pattern of Pb occurrence. The region which indicated high JIM5-P level corresponded with "Pb accumulation zone". Moreover, JIM5-P was especially abundant in cell junctions, CWs lining the intercellular spaces and the corners of intercellular spaces indicating the highest accumulation of Pb. Furthermore, JIM5-P and Pb commonly co-localized.The observations indicate that low-methylesterified homogalacturonan is the CW polymer that determines the capacity of ON for Pb sequestration. Our results suggest a promising directions for CW modification for enhancing the efficiency of plant roots in Pb accumulation, an important aspect in the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with trace metals. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Heavy metal; Cell wall; Populus; Phytoremediation; Tolerance

Published in

Environmental Pollution
2015, volume: 205, pages: 315-326
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

• Mellerowicz, Ewa

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences
Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.05.048

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/75377