Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Translation Efficiency Test Using Polysome Profiles Under Heat Stress
Published on: October 11, 2024
The molecular mechanism of zinc and cadmium stress response in plants
1Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. ya-fen.lin@wur.nl
Abstract:
When plants are subjected to high metal exposure, different plant species take different strategies in response to metal-induced stress. Largely, plants can be distinguished in four groups: metal-sensitive species, metal-resistant excluder species, metal-tolerant non-hyperaccumulator species, and metal-hypertolerant hyperaccumulator species, each having different molecular mechanisms to accomplish their resistance/tolerance to metal stress or reduce the negative consequences of metal toxicity. Plant responses to heavy metals are molecularly regulated in a process called metal homeostasis, which also includes regulation of the metal-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathway. ROS generation and signaling plays an important duel role in heavy metal detoxification and tolerance. In this review, we will compare the different molecular mechanisms of nutritional (Zn) and non-nutritional (Cd) metal homeostasis between metal-sensitive and metal-adapted species. We will also include the role of metal-induced ROS signal transduction in this comparison, with the aim to provide a comprehensive overview on how plants cope with Zn/Cd stress at the molecular level.
Related Concept Videos
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Responses to Salt Stress
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Cell Signaling in Plants
C4 Pathway and CAM
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...

