Labile sulfide and sulfite in phytochelatin complexes

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA)

OSTI ID:6604173

Eannetta, N T; Steffens, J C ^[1]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)

Heavy metals such as cadmium induce tomato cell cultures to synthesize the metal binding polypeptides ({gamma}-Glu-Cys){sub 3} and ({gamma}-Glu-Cys){sub 4}-Gly (phytochelatins). Tomato cells selected for growth on normally lethal concentrations of CdCl{sub 2} synthesize higher quantities of these polypeptides. Cd{sup r} cells are not cross-resistant to other heavy metals, and recent work suggests that metal detoxification by these peptides may be Cd-specific. The occurrence of labile sulfur as a component of the metal complex raises questions concerning possible functions of phytochelatins besides that of Cd binding. The presence of acid-labile sulfide ion in phytochelatin complexes has been reported by several groups. We report the additional finding that labile sulfite is also present in these complexes and in higher amounts than sulfide. Sulfide and sulfite are both released from the metal binding complex by acidification or by treatment with EDTA.

• OSTI ID: 6604173
• Journal Information: Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA), Vol. 89:4; ISSN 0079-2241
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
METABOLISM
POLYPEPTIDES
BIOSYNTHESIS
ACIDIFICATION
CELL CULTURES
COMPLEXES
DETOXIFICATION
EDTA
SULFIDES
SULFITES
TOMATOES
AMINO ACIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHELATING AGENTS
ELEMENTS
FOOD
FRUITS
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDES
PROTEINS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology