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Plant Roots - From Cells to Systems pp 117–130Cite as

Metal-gene-interactions in roots: metallothionein-like genes and iron reductases

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Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 73))

Abstract

Many metals are known to be essential for plants while others are not. Large amounts of essential or non-essential metals can be toxic. The availability of metals in soil can vary, both temporally and spatially. How do roots acquire, store and distribute each required metal while avoiding either toxicity or deficiency? What genes determine these responses?

This account considers iron, copper and zinc. Progress in the isolation, functional analysis and metallo-regulation of genes encoding metallothionein-like proteins and root surface metal reductases is described. This article is not a broad review but presents some of our recent findings in the context of related research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, The Medical School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK

    Nigel J. Robinson, Jonathan R. Wilson, Jennifer S. Turner, Anthony P. Fordham-Skelton & Quentin J. Groom

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  1. Nigel J. Robinson
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  2. Jonathan R. Wilson
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  3. Jennifer S. Turner
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  4. Anthony P. Fordham-Skelton
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  5. Quentin J. Groom
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H. M. Anderson P. W. Barlow D. T. Clarkson M. B. Jackson P. R. Shewry

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Robinson, N.J., Wilson, J.R., Turner, J.S., Fordham-Skelton, A.P., Groom, Q.J. (1997). Metal-gene-interactions in roots: metallothionein-like genes and iron reductases. In: Anderson, H.M., Barlow, P.W., Clarkson, D.T., Jackson, M.B., Shewry, P.R. (eds) Plant Roots - From Cells to Systems. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 73. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5696-7_12

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