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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
Cadmium tolerance mediated by GhBCAT12 through branched-chain amino acid degradation via vacuolar sequestration in
Lei Xiao1, Xiugui Chen1, Yunxin He2
1Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences / Anyang Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, Anyang Institute of Technology / National Center of Technology Innovation for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Anyang, Henan, 455000, China.
Abstract:
Soil Cd2+ pollution threatens agricultural safety. Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism is involved in stress responses, but its role in cotton Cd2+ tolerance remains unclear. Here, 16 GhBCAT genes were identified in Gossypium hirsutum, among which GhBCAT12 was significantly induced by Cd2+ stress. Silencing GhBCAT12 increased Cd2+ sensitivity, causing growth inhibition, oxidative damage, and cell death. Metabolomic analysis revealed the accumulation of leucine, isoleucine, and valine, with decreased acetyl-CoA, indicating that GhBCAT12 mediates BCAA degradation. This study reveals a novel pathway in which GhBCAT12-mediated BCAA degradation provides acetyl-CoA precursors for the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, sustaining ATP production, which in turn powers vacuolar Cd2+ sequestration. These findings provide a new target for improving heavy metal tolerance in crops.
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