ISSN:
1432-2048
Keywords:
Copper (uptake, tolerance)
;
Metallothionein
;
Protein, Cu-binding
;
Silene
;
Translocation (Cu)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Growth and copper-binding of a copper-tolerant and a copper-sensitive population of Silene cucubalus (L.) Wib. have been studied. The copper-tolerant plants showed a much lower uptake and a proportionally higher transport of copper from root to shoot. A copper-binding protein with an apparent Mr of 8500 resembling metallothionein has been isolated from the roots of copper-treated plants of the tolerant population. After 20 d, the protein was observed to be inducible upon copper supply in the copper-tolerant plants, but not yet in the sensitive ones. This could be an indication of a difference in metalregulated synthesis of the protein. Ion-exchange chromatography of the 8500 protein yielded a major copper-containing fraction eluting at high ionic strength. Other characteristics such as UV absorption and amino-acid composition resembled strongly those of metallothioneins. The involvement of metallothioneins in the detoxification of copper within Cu-tolerant plants is discussed in relation to other mechanisms.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00410215
Permalink
