Heterologous expression of mitochondria‐targeted microbial nitrilase enzymes increases cyanide tolerance in Arabidopsis. (9th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Molojwane, E.; Adams, N.; Sweetlove, L. J.; Ingle, R. A.; Mendel, R.
• Is Part Of: Plant biology. Volume 17:Number 4(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 922
• Page End: 926
• Publication Date: 2015-04-09
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; Plants -- genetics -- Periodicals; Plants -- growth & development -- Periodicals; Plant Proteins -- Periodicals; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/plb.12323
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1435-8603

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="plb12323-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Anthropogenic activities have resulted in cyanide (CN) contamination of both soil and water in many areas of the globe. While plants possess a detoxification pathway that serves to degrade endogenously generated CN, this system is readily overwhelmed, limiting the use of plants in bioremediation. Genetic engineering of additional CN degradation pathways in plants is one potential strategy to increase their tolerance to CN. Here we show that heterologous expression of microbial nitrilase enzymes targeted to the mitochondria increases CN tolerance in <italic>Arabidopsis</italic>. Root length in seedlings expressing either a CN dihydratase from <italic>Bacillus pumilis</italic> or a CN hydratase from <italic>Neurospora crassa</italic> was increased by 45% relative in wild‐type plants in the presence of 50 μ<sc>m </sc>KCN. We also demonstrate that in contrast to its strong inhibitory effects on seedling establishment, seed germination of the Col‐0 ecotype of <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> is unaffected by CN.</p> </abstract>