[Physiological and molecular biological mechanisms of heavy metal absorption and accumulation in hyperaccumulators]

Abstract

In comparison with normal plants, hyperaccumulators have the ability to accumulate heavy metals in their shoots far exceeding those observed in soil, without suffering from detrimental effects. With the help of molecular technologies, the research on the mechanisms of heavy metal accumulation in hyperaccumulators has been made a great progress. A number of trace element transporters have been cloned by functional complementation with yeast mutants defective in metal absorption. The relations between glutathione, phytochelatins metallothioneins, organic acids and heavy metals have been studied by molecular technologies. This review concentrated on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of heavy metal absorption and sequestration in hyperaccumulators.