Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Contaminant Toxicity in Plants: The Importance of Sulphur and Associated Signalling Pathways

摘要: Abstract Environmental contamination with metals and organic compounds poses a serious threat to human health. Investigating plant responses these contaminants at the molecular cellular level is crucial optimize phytoremediation strategies clean up contaminated soils. Two key players in stress are sulphur-containing amino acids cysteine methionine. Cysteine an important constituent of metal-chelating metallothioneins also precursor for glutathione subsequent phytochelatin synthesis. During conditions, involved (1) metal chelation, (2) xenobiotic detoxification (3) antioxidative defence. The activated form methionine, S-adenosylmethionine, synthesis ethylene polyamines, both playing roles signal transduction. This review provides overview sulphur uptake assimilation its conversion into basic metabolites essential transduction during contaminant exposure plants. Furthermore, cross talk between pathways their relation contaminant-induced oxidative challenge discussed.