Cloning and characterization of type 2 metallothionein-like gene from a wetland plant, Typha latifolia

Yan Wen Zhang, N. F.Y. Tam, Y. S. Wong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A type 2 metallothionein-like (MT-like) gene, tyMT, was cloned from Cattail (Typha latifolia), a wetland plant with constitutional tolerance to heavy metals. The gene encoded a deduced peptide of 79aa residues, containing the cysteine-rich domains, typical of plant type 2 MT-like proteins which included the presence of C-C, C-X-C, and C-X-X-C (X are other amino acids other than cysteine) motifs at amino-terminus and carboxy-terminus. Southern blot analysis suggested that the tyMT gene belongs to a multi-gene family. Northern blot hybridization results showed that the transcripts of the tyMT gene in root and shoot were differently regulated by heavy metals, such as Cu2+ and Cd2+, providing new information for plant MT-like genes. When expressing the tyMT in copper sensitive MT-deficient strain of yeast, it restored the yeast's metal tolerance. Moreover, when the tyMT gene was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana, the transgenic plants showed an increased tolerance to heavy metals, such as Cu2+and Cd2+. These results confirm that the tyMT gene is involved in heavy metal tolerance of T latifolia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)869-877
Number of pages9
JournalPlant Science
Volume167
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Heavy metal tolerance
  • Metallothionein-like gene
  • Typha latifolia

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