Cadmium Stress Signaling Pathways in Plants: Molecular Responses and Mechanisms

Heavy metal (HM) pollution, specifically cadmium (Cd) contamination, is a worldwide concern for its consequences for plant health and ecosystem stability. This review sheds light on the intricate mechanisms underlying Cd toxicity in plants and the various strategies employed by these organisms to mitigate its adverse effects. From molecular responses to physiological adaptations, plants have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms to counteract Cd stress. We highlighted the role of phytochelatins (PCn) in plant detoxification, which chelate and sequester Cd ions to prevent their accumulation and minimize toxicity. Additionally, we explored the involvement of glutathione (GSH) in mitigating oxidative damage caused by Cd exposure and discussed the regulatory mechanisms governing GSH biosynthesis. We highlighted the role of transporter proteins, such as ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABCs) and heavy metal ATPases (HMAs), in mediating the uptake, sequestration, and detoxification of Cd in plants. Overall, this work offered valuable insights into the physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms underlying plant responses to Cd stress, providing a basis for strategies to alleviate the unfavorable effects of HM pollution on plant health and ecosystem resilience.

• Publication year

  2024

• Venue

  Current Issues in Molecular Biology

• Publication date

  2024-06-01

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.3390/cimb46060361PMID 38921032PMCID 11202648
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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