Mechanism of arsenate resistance in the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Hymenoscyphus ericae

J M Sharples, A A Meharg, S M Chambers, J W G Cairney

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124 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Arsenate resistance is exhibited by the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Hymenoscyphus ericae collected from As-contaminated mine soils. To investigate the mechanism of arsenate resistance, uptake kinetics for arsenate (H2AsO4-), arsenite (H3AsO3), and phosphate (H2PrO4-) were determined in both arsenate-resistant and -non-resistant H. ericae. The uptake kinetics of H2AsO4-, H3AsO3, and H2PO4- in both resistant and non-resistant isolates were similar. The presence of 5.0 muM H2PO4- repressed uptake of H2AsO4- and exposure to 0.75 mM H2AsO4- repressed H2PO4- uptake in both H. ericae. Mine site H. ericae demonstrated an enhanced As efflux mechanism in comparison with non-resistant H, ericae and lost approximately 90%; of preloaded cellular As (1-h uptake of 0.22 mu mol g(-1) dry weight h(-1) H2AsO4-) over a 5-h period in comparison with non-resistant: H. ericae, which lost 40% of their total absorbed H2AsO4-. As lost from the fungal tissue was in the form of H3AsO3. The results of the present study demonstrate an enhanced H2AsO4- efflux system operating in mine site H. ericae as a mechanism for H2AsO4- resistance. The ecological significance of this mechanism of arsenate resistance is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1327-1334
Number of pages8
JournalPlant Physiology
Volume124
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2000

Keywords

  • PHOSPHATE-UPTAKE SYSTEM
  • HOLCUS-LANATUS L
  • PHOSPHORUS
  • DEFICIENCY
  • TRANSPORT
  • KINETICS
  • PLANTS
  • ROOTS
  • ABSORPTION
  • TOLERANCE

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