CENTZIN

"Upstream signalling, global regulatory control and biochemical function of central components in the zinc homeostasis network: towards the rational design of technologies for bio-fortification"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This project aims to advance our fundamental molecular understanding of metal homeostasis in plants, enabling the rational design of bio-fortification and phytoremediation technologies. Nutritional zinc deficiency affects more than a third of the World’s population. Also, large areas of soils in industrialized nations are contaminated with high levels of chemically similar harmful metals such as lead and cadmium. Since plants are a major route for the entry of both essential and toxic non-essential trace elements into the food chain, a comprehensive molecular understanding of metal homeostasis networks governing trace element accumulation in plants is highly desirable. Following from recent progress in the field, the proposed project will tackle three selected central aspects of plant zinc homeostasis. The role of low-molecular weight chelators in subcellular partitioning of zinc will be addressed through biochemical analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana ZIF1, a vacuolar membrane protein required for zinc tolerance, through combined reverse genetics, biochemistry and recently developed sub-cellular fractionation techniques. A forward genetic screen will identify genes within regulatory pathways governing zinc homeostasis, based on unique tools and technical expertise previously generated by the applicant. Finally, molecular regulatory links within the metal homeostasis network will be revealed by combining genetic resources uniquely available in the host lab and from the applicant, and subjecting them to genome-wide transcript profiling. This research will not only advance metal homeostasis, but also our general understanding of regulation and signalling in plants. By integrating unique tools, resources and knowledge between the applicant, his laboratory of origin in Australia and the European host lab, tight collaborative links will be established, thus accelerating scientific progress and fostering continued scientific exchange between Europe and Australia.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A European study unravelled the mechanism of zinc regulation in plants.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Heavy metals such as Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) are essential for normal plant growth. However, elevated concentrations can result in growth inhibition and toxicity symptoms. Plants possess a range of potential cellular mechanisms that may be involved in the detoxification of heavy metals and thus tolerance to metal stress. Also, plants are a major route for the entry of trace elements into the food chain. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern metal homeostasis and accumulation in plants is therefore desirable.

The main objective of the 'Upstream signalling, global regulatory control and biochemical function of central components in the zinc homeostasis network: technologies for bio-fortification' (Centzin) project was to study zinc homeostasis and regulation in the model plant organism Arabidopsis thaliana.

By constructing various transgenic plants, project partners identified ZIF1, a vacuolar transport protein, as important for zinc tolerance and plant growth.

They found that when this protein was abundantly expressed, the plant roots were rich in a metal chelator that worked to reduce the zinc levels. The regulatory mechanism of zinc uptake and transport was further elucidated using gene microarray analysis. Candidate proteins that are implicated in these processes were also identified and characterised.

The Centzin project provided significant basic knowledge on the molecular mechanism of zinc regulation and tolerance in plants. The study's insights can be exploited in the bio-fortification of crops to tackle nutritional zinc deficiency.