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Major Intrinsic Proteins and Arsenic Transport in Plants: New Players and Their Potential Role

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MIPs and Their Role in the Exchange of Metalloids

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 679))

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is a toxic and highly abundant metalloid that endangers human health through drinking water and the food chain. The most common forms of As in the environment are arsenate [As(V)] and arsenite [As(III)]. As(V) is a nonfunctional phosphate analog that enters the food chain via plant phosphate transporters. Recently, evidence was provided that uptake of As(III)—the second most abundant As species in soils—is mediated by plant nodulin26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs), a subfamily of plant major intrinsic proteins (MIPs). Specific NIPs are also essential for the uptake of the metalloids boron and silicon and aquaglyceroporins from microbes and mammals were shown to be the major routes of As uptake. Therefore As(III) transport through MIPs is a conserved and ancient feature. In this chapter we summarize the current view on As transport in plants and address the potential physiological significance of As(III) transport through NIPs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture and Ecology Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    Thomas P. Jahn

  2. Unité de Biochimie Physiologique, Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 5-15, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    Gerd P. Bienert

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  1. Department of Agriculture and Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    Thomas P. Jahn PhD

  2. Unité de Biochimie Physiologique, Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    Gerd P. Bienert PhD

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Bienert, G.P., Jahn, T.P. (2010). Major Intrinsic Proteins and Arsenic Transport in Plants: New Players and Their Potential Role. In: Jahn, T.P., Bienert, G.P. (eds) MIPs and Their Role in the Exchange of Metalloids. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 679. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6315-4_9

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