Phytochelatins play major roles in metal detoxification in plants and fungi. However, genes encoding phytochelatin synthases have not yet been identified. By screening for plant genes mediating metal tolerance we identified a wheat cDNA, TaPCS1, whose expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae results in a dramatic increase in cadmium tolerance. TaPCS1 encodes a protein of approximately 55 kDa with...

Optimum concentrations of heavy metals like copper, cadmium, lead, chromium, and zinc in soil are essential in carrying out various cellular activities in minimum concentrations and hence help in sustaining all life forms, although higher concentration of these metals is lethal to most of the life forms. Galerina vittiformis, a macrofungus, was found to accumulate these heavy metals into its fl...

Tolerance is one of the most important mechanisms for survival. Organisms living in polluted environments with heavy metals develop tolerance to these contaminants; this tolerance has been attributed to the ability to synthesize metal-binding substances or another different mechanism able to mediate metal detoxification. It has been demonstrated that high levels of metals induce the formation o...

Effects of cadmium (10 nM), copper (80 nM) and zinc (150 nM) additions were studied in the marine diatom Ditylum brightwellii and the riverine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. Defense against oxidative stress via cellular thiol (SH) pools and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activation, detoxification via phytochelatins and cell damage were monitored in metal-exposed exponential-phase cells and contr...