Phytochelatins and Cadmium Mitigation: Harnessing Genetic Avenues for Plant Functional Manipulation

Autor(es)

Marques, Deyvid Novaes ; Thiengo, Cassio Carlette ; Azevedo, Ricardo Antunes

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES; v. 26, n. 10, p. 20-pg., 2025-05-16.

Resumo

Among the highly toxic heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) is highlighted as a persistent environmental pollutant, posing serious threats to plants and broader ecological systems. Phytochelatins (PCs), which are synthesized by phytochelatin synthase (PCS), are peptides that play a central role in Cd mitigation through metal chelation and vacuolar sequestration upon formation of Cd-PC complexes. PC synthesis interacts with other cellular mechanisms to shape detoxification outcomes, broadening the functional scope of PCs beyond classical stress responses. Plant Cd-related processes have has been extensively investigated within this context. This perspective article presents key highlights of the panorama concerning strategies targeting the PC pathway and PC synthesis to manipulate Cd-exposed plants. It discusses multiple advances on the topic related to genetic manipulation, including the use of mutants and transgenics, which also covers gene overexpression, PCS-deficient and PCS-overexpressing plants, and synthetic PC analogs. A complementary bibliometric analysis reveals emerging trends and reinforces the need for interdisciplinary integration and precision in genetic engineering. Future directions include the design of multigene circuits and grafting-based innovations to optimize Cd sequestration and regulate its accumulation in plant tissues, supporting both phytoremediation efforts and food safety in contaminated agricultural environments. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 20/12666-7 - Modulação tecido-específica do proteoma, da síntese de fitoquelatinas e da atividade de enzimas antioxidantes de tomateiro em resposta ao Cd, utilizando enxertias recíprocas
• Beneficiário: Deyvid Novaes Marques
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 22/11018-7 - Metabolômica para resposta ao estresse induzido por cádmio: foco em plantas de tomateiro enxertadas
• Beneficiário: Deyvid Novaes Marques
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Pós-Doutorado