Metabolism of 2,4-dichlorophenol in tobacco engineered with bacterial degradative genes

Conference · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA)

OSTI ID:5850788

Perkins, E J; Sekine, M; Gordon, M P ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle (USA)

The potential use of plants in toxic waste remediation has been overlooked. While chlorophenols are relatively slowly metabolized in Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi leaf extracts, chlorocatechols are rapidly metabolized, presumably by polyphenol oxidases. Our initial focus has been the fate of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4DCP) in var. Xanthi plants which express a bacterial 2,4DCP hydroxylase, which converts 2,4DCP to 3,5-dichlorocatechol. The roots of wild type and 2,4DCP hydroxylase transgenic plants growing in hydroponics were exposed to {sup 14}C-2,4DCP. Approximately 95% of {sup 14}C-2,4DCP metabolites remained in the roots when exposed to 2,4DCP. Upon extraction of root tissue, three major metabolites were found in untransformed plants and four major metabolites in transformed plants. Upon digestion with beta-D-glucosidase, these metabolites disappeared concomitant with the appearance of free 2,4DCP in wild type plants and 2,4DCP and 3,5-dichlorocatechol in transgenic plants. It is apparent that the chlorophenols are not readily available substrates for polyphenol oxidases in whole plants.

• OSTI ID: 5850788
• Report Number(s): CONF-9007196--
• Journal Information: Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA), Journal Name: Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA) Vol. 93:1; ISSN PPYSA; ISSN 0079-2241
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MATERIALS
METABOLISM
MITIGATION
NICOTIANA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
PLANTS
TOXIC MATERIALS
TRACER TECHNIQUES