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Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
Published on: May 16, 2019
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The labile zinc pool in plant cells
Ilya E Zlobin1, Alexander V Kartashov2, Alexander V Nosov2
1Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127276 Moscow, Russia; and Corresponding author.
Functional Plant Biology : FPB
|May 11, 2019
Summary
Plant cells contain micromolar concentrations of labile zinc complexes, mainly protein-bound. Changes in this labile zinc pool, influenced by zinc availability, affect cell proliferation and enzyme activity, suggesting a role in zinc trafficking and signaling.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Zinc is a crucial transition metal for plant life, yet its dynamic intracellular regulation (homeostasis) remains unclear.
- Understanding labile zinc pools is key to deciphering how plants manage zinc availability and its physiological impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of labile zinc complexes in plant cells.
- To determine the influence of varying intracellular zinc levels on cellular physiology and enzyme activity.
Main Methods:
- Cultivated cell extracts from Arabidopsis thaliana and Thellungiella salsuginea were analyzed.
- Plants were subjected to control, excess, or starvation zinc conditions.
- Fluorimetric titration was used to quantify free and labile zinc concentrations.
Main Results:
- Plant cells possess micromolar concentrations of labile zinc complexes, primarily bound to proteins.
- Zinc starvation depleted the labile zinc pool and inhibited cell proliferation.
- Zinc excess significantly expanded the labile zinc pool.
- Free Zn2+ is buffered at picomolar levels but modulates enzyme activity at nanomolar concentrations.
Conclusions:
- The labile zinc pool plays a vital role in intracellular zinc transport and signaling pathways.
- Dynamic changes in labile zinc influence plant cell proliferation and enzyme function.
- Plant cells actively regulate free zinc ion concentrations to maintain physiological balance.
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