Transcriptome Response to Cadmium Exposure in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

0548885 - ÚEB 2022 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Kintlová, Martina - Vrána, Jan - Hobza, Roman - Blavet, Nicolas - Hudzieczek, V.
Transcriptome Response to Cadmium Exposure in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).
Frontiers in Plant Science. Roč. 12, JUL 15 (2021), č. článku 629089. ISSN 1664-462X. E-ISSN 1664-462X
Institutional support: RVO:61389030
Keywords : barley * cadmium * gene duplication * HvPCR2 * transcriptomic analysis
OECD category: Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)
Impact factor: 6.627, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Open access
http://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.629089

Cadmium is an environmental pollutant with high toxicity that negatively affects plant growth and development. To understand the molecular mechanisms of plant response to cadmium stress, we have performed a genome-wide transcriptome analysis on barley plants treated with an increased concentration of cadmium. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 10,282 deregulated transcripts present in the roots and 7,104 in the shoots. Among them, we identified genes related to reactive oxygen species metabolism, cell wall formation and maintenance, ion membrane transport and stress response. One of the most upregulated genes was PLANT CADMIUM RESISTACE 2 (HvPCR2) known to be responsible for heavy metal detoxification in plants. Surprisingly, in the transcriptomic data we identified four different copies of the HvPCR2 gene with a specific pattern of upregulation in individual tissues. Heterologous expression of all five barley copies in a Cd-sensitive yeast mutant restored cadmium resistance. In addition, four HvPCR2 were located in tandem arrangement in a single genomic region of the barley 5H chromosome. To our knowledge, this is the first example showing multiplication of the PCR2 gene in plants.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0324922