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Thermochemical Studies of Ni(II) and Zn(II) Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 8, 2022
Nicotianamine forms complexes with Zn(II) in vivo
Aleksandra Trampczynska1, Hendrik Küpper, Wolfram Meyer-Klaucke
1Universität Bayreuth, Lehrstuhl Pflanzenphysiologie, Bayreuth, Germany.
Metallomics : Integrated Biometal Science
|November 13, 2010
Summary
Nicotianamine (NA) forms zinc (Zn(ii)-NA) complexes in vivo, crucial for plant metal homeostasis. This finding suggests direct NA-Zn interactions in plants, impacting nutrient translocation and metal metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
Background:
- Nicotianamine (NA) is vital for plant metal homeostasis and micronutrient translocation.
- Detecting in vivo metal-ligand complexes is challenging due to tissue disruption.
- NA forms in vitro complexes with transition metals, particularly iron (Fe).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo formation of metal-nicotianamine complexes.
- To determine if NA directly binds metals in living cells.
- To explore the role of NA in zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains expressing a plant NAS gene.
- Analyzed tolerance, accumulation, and competition data for metal-NA interactions.
- Employed X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), including EXAFS, for metal complex identification.
Main Results:
- Evidence indicated in vivo formation of Zn(ii)-NA complexes, but not Cu(ii)-NA.
- XAS confirmed Zn(ii)-NA complex identification in NAS-expressing yeast.
- Approximately 50% of cellular Zn was NA-bound in NAS-expressing cells.
Conclusions:
- Zn(ii)-NA complexes likely exist in planta, suggesting direct NA-Zn interactions in plant metal homeostasis.
- NA's role in plant Zn homeostasis may involve direct Zn translocation, not just indirect Fe metabolism effects.
- In hyperaccumulators like Thlaspi caerulescens, NA is hypothesized to facilitate Zn translocation to above-ground tissues.
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