Title

Genetic Engineering To Enhance Mercury Phytoremediation

Abstract

Most phytoremediation studies utilize merA or merB genes to modify plants via the nuclear or chloroplast genome, expressing organomercurial lyase and/or mercuric ion reductase in the cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum or within plastids. Several plant species including Arabidopsis, tobacco, poplar, rice, Eastern cottonwood, peanut, salt marsh grass and Chlorella have been transformed with these genes. Transgenic plants grew exceedingly well in soil contaminated with organic (∼400 μM PMA) or inorganic mercury (∼500 μM HgCl2), accumulating Hg in roots surpassing the concentration in soil (∼2000 μg/g). However, none of these plants were tested in the field to demonstrate real potential of this approach. Availability of metal transporters, translocators, chelators and the ability to express membrane proteins could further enhance mercury phytoremediation capabilities. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication Date

4-1-2009

Publication Title

Current Opinion in Biotechnology

Volume

20

Issue

2

Number of Pages

213-219

Document Type

Review

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2009.02.010

Socpus ID

66149145441 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/66149145441

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