21.03.2016 change 21.03.2016

Sorghum during drought: proteins protect against withering

Photo: Fotolia Photo: Fotolia

Why are some plants, like rose of Jericho and sorghum, more resistant to drought than others? It may be linked to certain proteins, which are responsible for the storage of zinc and other heavy metals. Researcher from Toruń investigates this phenomenon in her study.

Resurrection plants are perfect for the most forgetful people, who often forget about watering. Although plants such as rose Jericho dry when they are not watered, but can survive very long without water. After watering they quickly return to form. Researchers checked what exactly allows these plants to survive in such difficult conditions.

RESURRECTION PROTEIN

It turned out that when a resurrection plant dries, it begins to vigorously produce certain proteins - including metallothionein. When water is supplied to the plant, the level of metallothionein drops. Researchers also noted that the same protein is intensively produced by other plants in drought conditions. For these reasons researchers have high hopes associated with metallothionein and are taking a closer look at this protein. If they can determine how plants become resistant to water scarcity, it will be easier to grow plant varieties that will not be affected by drought.

Agnieszka Mierek-Adamska from the Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń conducts research on metallothionein. She will carry out her two-year project in the UK, having obtained a "Maria Sklodowska-Curie" actions grant.

Rose of Jericho after watering. Source: Wikipedia, author: Serych

HARD WORK WITH METAL

"Metallothioneins are proteins that are present in all living organisms. It is already known that their task is to bind heavy metals" - explained the biologist from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in an interview with PAP. She admitted that it may seem that heavy metals are the elements against which the body should defend itself. This is the case, for example, with cadmium or lead. But heavy metals also includes zinc, copper and iron, trace elements, whose presence in the body is essential. Storage of such materials is therefore a necessity for the body.

GIVE THEM ZINC!

Dr. Mierek-Adamska draws attention to the role of metallothionein in the capture of zinc. Zinc deficiency - particularly in children - is a common problem in developing countries. Scientists are wondering how to produce cereals rich in zinc. They keep an eye on sorghum, popular in Africa, which is the basis of the food of the local population. It sorghum grain rich in zinc can be grown, people would ingest this trace mineral with food, in sufficient doses. But before such a step is possible, first it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of effective storage of zinc in plants, and thus, among others, metallothionein research.

CEREALS DURING DROUGHT

Research on the action of these proteins will also give the opportunity to check additional functions of metallothionein specific to sorghum (the plant has five different metallothionein). "Sorghum is one of the most drought-resistant cereals. We want to see if and how metallothionein present in it are involved in the plant response to the lack of water. This could tell us how to obtain plants resistant to shortage of water" - said Dr. Mierek-Adamska.

BACTERIA? GET TO WORK!

The researcher explains that the study of proteins is easier with the help of... bacteria. Fragments encoding the desired protein are introduced into the bacterial DNA. As a result, bacteria can begin production of the biomolecule. These proteins can then be isolated and tested. Scientists are interested, among others, in the structure of the protein, and how the appearance and functioning of the protein changes when zinc or cadmium attach to it. "We also want to find out whether metallothionein behave differently in the presence of different metals" - said the researcher.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, Ludwika Tomala

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