<i>Vvmrp1, Vvmt1</i>, and <i>Vvmt2</i> Co-Expression Improves Cadmium Tolerance and Reduces Cadmium Accumulation in Rice

<i>Vvmrp1, Vvmt1</i>, and <i>Vvmt2</i> Co-Expression Improves Cadmium Tolerance and Reduces Cadmium Accumulation in Rice

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils severely threatens rice production and food safety. To address this issue, this study developed transgenic rice lines co-expressing three <i>Vitis vinifera</i> genes: the ABCC transporter <i>Vvmrp1</i> and metallothioneins <...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hongjuan Han, Yu Wang, Cen Qian, Quanhong Yao, Qiaoquan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
multi-gene co-transformation
cadmium accumulation and tolerance
<i>Vvmrp1</i>
<i>Vvmt1</i>
<i>Vvmt2</i>
low-Cd rice breeding
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/6/1493
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Summary:Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils severely threatens rice production and food safety. To address this issue, this study developed transgenic rice lines co-expressing three <i>Vitis vinifera</i> genes: the ABCC transporter <i>Vvmrp1</i> and metallothioneins <i>Vvmt1</i> and <i>Vvmt2</i>. AlphaFold computational modeling confirmed the conserved ABCC-type transporter domain in VvMRP1. Under hydroponic conditions, transgenic rice showed remarkable Cd tolerance, surviving 30 mM Cd (lethal to wildtype, WT) without growth penalties, and exhibited 62.5% survival at 1 mM Cd vs. complete wild-type mortality. Field-relevant Cd exposure (1 mM) reduced Cd accumulation to 35.8% in roots, 83% in stems, and 76.8% in grains compared to WT. Mechanistic analyses revealed that <i>Vvmrp1</i> mediates cellular Cd efflux while <i>Vvmt1</i> and 2 chelate free Cd ions, synergistically inhibiting Cd translocation. Transgenic plants also maintained better Fe, P, and Mg homeostasis under Cd stress. This study pioneers the co-expression of a transporter with metallothioneins in rice, demonstrating their complementary roles in Cd detoxification without pleiotropic effects from endogenous gene modification. The findings provide an effective genetic strategy for cultivating low-Cd rice in contaminated soils, offering significant implications for food safety and sustainable agriculture.
ISSN:2073-4395

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