Enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a Paramecium cadmium metallothionein PMCd1.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight cysteine rich proteins involved in detoxification of heavy metals. They are synthesized in response to metal exposure and can bind to various metals, thus reducing their toxicity and providing protection against oxidative stress. MTs are considered to...

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Main Authors: Hira Nizam, Asmara Imtiaz, Fareeda Tasneem, Farah Rauf Shakoori, Soumble Zulfiqar, Amina Younas, Sidra Mustafa, Asra Ghaus, Ayesha Zafar, Arshia Nazir, Muhammad Sajjad, Abdul Rauf Shakoori
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324322
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author Hira Nizam
Asmara Imtiaz
Fareeda Tasneem
Farah Rauf Shakoori
Soumble Zulfiqar
Amina Younas
Sidra Mustafa
Asra Ghaus
Ayesha Zafar
Arshia Nazir
Muhammad Sajjad
Abdul Rauf Shakoori
author_facet Hira Nizam
Asmara Imtiaz
Fareeda Tasneem
Farah Rauf Shakoori
Soumble Zulfiqar
Amina Younas
Sidra Mustafa
Asra Ghaus
Ayesha Zafar
Arshia Nazir
Muhammad Sajjad
Abdul Rauf Shakoori
author_sort Hira Nizam
collection DOAJ
description Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight cysteine rich proteins involved in detoxification of heavy metals. They are synthesized in response to metal exposure and can bind to various metals, thus reducing their toxicity and providing protection against oxidative stress. MTs are considered to be efficient bioremediators of heavy metal contaminated industrial wastewater. The present study was aimed at further enhancing the metal binding capacity of a cadmium metallothionein protein PMCd1, reported some time back from this laboratory in protozoan ciliate Paramecium, to equip them with more efficient system to deal with metal contaminated water bodies. Three additional cysteine residues were introduced at three different places of the protein by site directed mutagenesis, viz. S20C, R180C and Y185C. The wild type and each mutant of PMCd1 were expressed in E. coli BL21 cells. Metal uptake ability of each transformant was determined in the presence of 1 and 2mM Cd2+ in the medium. The three mutants showed enhanced metal uptake compared to the wild PMCd1 which underscored the role of additional cysteines in enhanced metal binding ability. Amongst the mutants, the genetically modified organism with S20C mutation exhibited 9.1 fold more metal uptake compared to the control ciliate. This mutant has great potential to clean the cadmium- contaminated water.
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publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-02c8de8e7fd647f58e500103786f1e9a2025-08-20T01:56:48ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01205e032432210.1371/journal.pone.0324322Enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a Paramecium cadmium metallothionein PMCd1.Hira NizamAsmara ImtiazFareeda TasneemFarah Rauf ShakooriSoumble ZulfiqarAmina YounasSidra MustafaAsra GhausAyesha ZafarArshia NazirMuhammad SajjadAbdul Rauf ShakooriMetallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight cysteine rich proteins involved in detoxification of heavy metals. They are synthesized in response to metal exposure and can bind to various metals, thus reducing their toxicity and providing protection against oxidative stress. MTs are considered to be efficient bioremediators of heavy metal contaminated industrial wastewater. The present study was aimed at further enhancing the metal binding capacity of a cadmium metallothionein protein PMCd1, reported some time back from this laboratory in protozoan ciliate Paramecium, to equip them with more efficient system to deal with metal contaminated water bodies. Three additional cysteine residues were introduced at three different places of the protein by site directed mutagenesis, viz. S20C, R180C and Y185C. The wild type and each mutant of PMCd1 were expressed in E. coli BL21 cells. Metal uptake ability of each transformant was determined in the presence of 1 and 2mM Cd2+ in the medium. The three mutants showed enhanced metal uptake compared to the wild PMCd1 which underscored the role of additional cysteines in enhanced metal binding ability. Amongst the mutants, the genetically modified organism with S20C mutation exhibited 9.1 fold more metal uptake compared to the control ciliate. This mutant has great potential to clean the cadmium- contaminated water.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324322
spellingShingle Hira Nizam
Asmara Imtiaz
Fareeda Tasneem
Farah Rauf Shakoori
Soumble Zulfiqar
Amina Younas
Sidra Mustafa
Asra Ghaus
Ayesha Zafar
Arshia Nazir
Muhammad Sajjad
Abdul Rauf Shakoori
Enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a Paramecium cadmium metallothionein PMCd1.
PLoS ONE
title Enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a Paramecium cadmium metallothionein PMCd1.
title_full Enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a Paramecium cadmium metallothionein PMCd1.
title_fullStr Enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a Paramecium cadmium metallothionein PMCd1.
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a Paramecium cadmium metallothionein PMCd1.
title_short Enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a Paramecium cadmium metallothionein PMCd1.
title_sort enhanced cadmium binding ability in response to novel modifications in a paramecium cadmium metallothionein pmcd1
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324322
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