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Selenium uptake, translocation, assimilation and metabolic fate in plants

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Abstract

The chemical and physical resemblance between selenium (Se) and sulfur (S) establishes that both these elements share common metabolic pathways in plants. The presence of isologous Se and S compounds indicates that these elements compete in biochemical processes that affect uptake, translocation and assimilation throughout plant development. Yet, minor but crucial differences in reactivity and other metabolic interactions infer that some biochemical processes involving Se may be excluded from those relating to S. This review examines the current understanding of physiological and biochemical relationships between S and Se metabolism by highlighting their similarities and differences in relation to uptake, transport and assimilation pathways as observed in Se hyperaccumulator and non-accumulator plant species. The exploitation of genetic resources used in bioengineering strategies of plants is illuminating the function of sulfate transporters and key enzymes of the S assimilatory pathway in relation to Se accumulation and final metabolic fate. These strategies are providing the basic framework by which to resolve questions relating to the essentiality of Se in plants and the mechanisms utilized by Se hyperaccumulators to circumvent toxicity. In addition, such approaches may assist in the future application of genetically engineered Se accumulating plants for environmental renewal and human health objectives.

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Abbreviations

APR:

APS reductase

APS:

adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate

APSe:

adenosine 5'-phosphoselenate

CGS:

cystathionine-γ-synthase

Cys:

cysteine

Cysth:

cystathionine

DMS:

dimethylsulfide

DMSe:

dimethylselenide

DMDSe:

dimethyldiselenide

DMSeP:

dimethylselenoniopropionate

GGMeCys:

γ-glutamyl-S-methylcysteine

GGMeSeCys:

γ-glutamyl-Se-methylselenocysteine

GPX:

glutathione peroxidase

GSH:

glutathione

HMT:

homocysteine methyltransferase

Hocys:

homocysteine

MeCys:

S-methylcysteine;

MeSeCys:

Se-methylselenocysteine

Met:

methionine

MMT:

S-adenosyl-L-methionine-L-methionine S-methyltransferase

OAS:

O-acetyl-L-serine

OAS-TL:

OAS thiol-lyase

S:

sulfur

SAT:

serine acetyltransferase

Se:

selenium

SECIS:

SeCys insertion sequence

SeCys:

selenocysteine

Secysth:

selenocystathionine

Sehocys:

selenohomocysteine

SeMet:

selenomethionine

SMM:

S-methylmethionine

SMT:

selenocysteine methyltransferase

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  1. Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Center for Plant Environmental Stress Physiology, Purdue University, 1165 Horticulture Building, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    T.G. Sors, D.R. Ellis & D.E. Salt

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  1. T.G. Sors
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  2. D.R. Ellis
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  3. D.E. Salt
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Sors, T., Ellis, D. & Salt, D. Selenium uptake, translocation, assimilation and metabolic fate in plants. Photosynth Res 86, 373–389 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-005-5222-9

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