TY - JOUR
T1 - Phytodetoxification of the environmental pollutant and explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene
AU - Rylott, Elizabeth L.
AU - Gunning, Vanda
AU - Tzafestas, Kyriakos
AU - Sparrow, Helen
AU - Johnston, Emily J.
AU - Brentnall, Andrew S.
AU - Potts, Jennifer R.
AU - Bruce, Neil C.
PY - 2014/2/5
Y1 - 2014/2/5
N2 - Our recent study highlights the role of 2 glutathione transferases (GSTs) in the detoxification of the environmental pollutant, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in Arabidopsis thaliana. TNT is toxic and highly resistant to biodegradation in the environment, raising both health and environmental concerns. Two GSTs, GST-U24 and GST-U25, are upregulated in response to TNT treatment, and expressed predominantly in the root tissues; the site of TNT location following uptake. Plants overexpressing GST-U24 and GST-U25 exhibited significantly enhanced ability to withstand and detoxify TNT, and remove TNT from contaminated soil. Analysis of the catalytic activities of these 2 enzymes revealed that they form 3 TNT-glutathionyl products. Of particular interest is 2-glutathionyl-4,6-dinitrotoluene as this represents a potentially favorable step toward subsequent degradation and mineralization of TNT. We demonstrate how GSTs fit into what is already known about pathways for TNT detoxification, and discuss the short and longer-term fate of TNT conjugates in planta.
AB - Our recent study highlights the role of 2 glutathione transferases (GSTs) in the detoxification of the environmental pollutant, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in Arabidopsis thaliana. TNT is toxic and highly resistant to biodegradation in the environment, raising both health and environmental concerns. Two GSTs, GST-U24 and GST-U25, are upregulated in response to TNT treatment, and expressed predominantly in the root tissues; the site of TNT location following uptake. Plants overexpressing GST-U24 and GST-U25 exhibited significantly enhanced ability to withstand and detoxify TNT, and remove TNT from contaminated soil. Analysis of the catalytic activities of these 2 enzymes revealed that they form 3 TNT-glutathionyl products. Of particular interest is 2-glutathionyl-4,6-dinitrotoluene as this represents a potentially favorable step toward subsequent degradation and mineralization of TNT. We demonstrate how GSTs fit into what is already known about pathways for TNT detoxification, and discuss the short and longer-term fate of TNT conjugates in planta.
KW - 2
KW - 4
KW - 6-trinitrotoluene
KW - Arabidopsis thaliana
KW - Environmental pollutant
KW - Glutathione transferases
KW - TNT
KW - Xenobiotic detoxification
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84922289483&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4161/15592324.2014.977714
DO - 10.4161/15592324.2014.977714
M3 - Article
C2 - 25654165
AN - SCOPUS:84922289483
SN - 1559-2316
VL - 10
JO - Plant Signaling and Behavior
JF - Plant Signaling and Behavior
IS - 1
M1 - e977714
ER -