Work

Vvmrp1, Vvmt1, and Vvmt2 Co-Expression Improves Cadmium Tolerance and Reduces Cadmium Accumulation in Rice

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils severely threatens rice production and food safety. To address this issue, this study developed transgenic rice lines co-expressing three Vitis vinifera genes: the ABCC transporter Vvmrp1 and metallothioneins Vvmt1 and Vvmt2. AlphaFold computational modeling confirmed the conserved ABCC-type transporter domain in VvMRP1. Under hydroponic conditions, transgenic rice showed remarkable Cd tolerance, surviving 30 mM Cd (lethal to wildtype, WT) without growth penalties, and exhibited 62.5% survival at 1 mM Cd vs. complete wild-type mortality. Field-relevant Cd exposure (1 mM) reduced Cd accumulation to 35.8% in roots, 83% in stems, and 76.8% in grains compared to WT. Mechanistic analyses revealed that Vvmrp1 mediates cellular Cd efflux while Vvmt1 and 2 chelate free Cd ions, synergistically inhibiting Cd translocation. Transgenic plants also maintained better Fe, P, and Mg homeostasis under Cd stress. This study pioneers the co-expression of a transporter with metallothioneins in rice, demonstrating their complementary roles in Cd detoxification without pleiotropic effects from endogenous gene modification. The findings provide an effective genetic strategy for cultivating low-Cd rice in contaminated soils, offering significant implications for food safety and sustainable agriculture.

Source: Agronomy

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy15061493

Authors: Hongjuan Han, Yu Wang, Cen Qian, Quanhong Yao, Qiaoquan Liu

Institutions: Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou University

Language: English

Topic: Heavy metals in environment

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137