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CSIC BIO036- Genetically Modified Plant Resistant To Media Containing Heavy Metals
Institute of Vegetal Biochemistry and Photosynthesis of CSIC has developed a genetically modified plant to solve heavy metal contamination of soils and waters. This plant shows an increase of its capacity of of heavy metal binding up to 300%, this plant is tolerant to toxic concentrations of heavy metals and able to accumulate them in the aerial parts. The centre is looking for environmental companies for license agreements and research collaboration
Specification sheet:
DESCRIPTION

The heavy metal contamination of the biosphere has drastically increased and one aspect of the phytoremediation technique is the use of plants tolerant to one or more heavy metals and able to accumulate them in the aerial parts. The plants have developed mechanisms to reduce the toxicity of heavy metals and metaloids by complex formation with organic ligands. Thus, cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenite are very reactive with thiol groups (-SH), and cysteine- rich peptides able to quelate these metals have been identified in plants. On the one hand, metalotioneins (MTs), that are proteins of low molecular weight and high cysteine content. On the other, phytochelatins (PCs), genetically uncoded peptides that are synthesized from glutathione (delta-glu-cys-beta-gly, GSH). GSH is an essential molecule in the cell, and its biosynthesis pathway is fine regulated in plants. The heavy metal induction of the quelating agents MTs and PCs triggers the biosynthesis of their precursor molecules, being cysteine the most important because it contains the –SH group.

We have developed a genetically modified plant that is resistant to media containing heavy metals and able to accumulate them to higher quantities than wild type plants are able. By the overexpression of the gene coding for O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase enzyme, which catalyzes the synthesis of cysteine, this plant has increased its cysteine-rich molecule synthesis capacity up to 300%. Tolerance analysis has shown that the genetically modified plant is able to germinate and grow in media containing toxic concentrations of cadmium, arsenite, arsenate, mercury, zinc, cupper and nickel, where the wild type plants are not viable. We have also analyzed the metal accumulation in the aerial parts of the genetically modified plant, and an important accumulation capability is observed

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS

The obtaining of a genetically modified plant that shows an increase of its capacity of synthesis of heavy metal and metaloid sequestring peptides up to 300%.

This plant is able to germinate and grow in media containing toxic concentrations of one or more of the metals As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni and Zn.

This plant accumulates these metals in its aerial parts, stems and leaves.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

The genetically modified plant is able to grow in media contaminated with one or more of the most important contaminant metals.

The plant derives from the wild type strain of Arabidopsis thaliana with a short generation time and therefore the necessary time for recovery of a contaminated soil is reduced.

The plant accumulates the metals in its aerial parts which facilitates their elimination by harvesting stems and leaves.

KEYWORDS

Metal contamination, phytoremediation, heavy metals, accumulator plant, tolerant plant

PATENT

ES200100590, applied for at 2002-01-03

CONTACT

Consuelo Quilchano
email: quilchano@cica.es
phone: +34 95 450 09 78

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