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A possible new mechanism involved in ferro-cyanide metabolism by plants

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Abstract

Background, aim, and scope

Ferro-cyanide is one of the commonly found species at cyanide-contaminated soils and groundwater. Unlike botanical metabolism of KCN via the β-cyanoalanine pathway, processes involved in the plant-mediated assimilation of ferro-cyanide are still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible mechanism involved in uptake and assimilation of ferro-cyanide by plants.

Materials and methods

Detached roots of plants were exposed to ferro-cyanide in a closed-dark hydroponic system amended with HgCl2, AgNO3, LaCl3, tetraethylammonium chloride (TEACl), or Na3VO4, respectively, at 25 ± 0.5°C for 24 h. Total CN, free CN-, and dissolved Fe2+ were analyzed spectrophotometrically. Activity of β-cyanoalanine synthase involved in cyanide assimilation was also assayed using detached roots of plants in vivo.

Results

Dissociation of ferro-cyanide [FeII(CN)6]-4 to free CN- and Fe2+ in solution was negligible. The applied inhibitors did not show any significant impact on the uptake of ferro-cyanide by soybean (Glycine max L. cv. JD 1) and hybrid willows (Salix matsudana Koidz × alba L.; p > 0.05), but rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. JY 98) was more susceptible to the inhibitors compared with the controls (p < 0.05). However, TEACl had the most severe effect on the assimilation of ferro-cyanide by soybean, hybrid willows, and maize (Zea mays L. cv. PA 78; p < 0.01), whereas AgNO3 was the most sensitive inhibitor to rice (p < 0.01). No measurable difference in β-cyanoalanine synthase activity of roots exposed to ferro-cyanide was observed compared with the control without any cyanides (p > 0.05), whereas roots exposed to KCN showed a considerable increase in enzyme activity (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Plants take up Fe2+ and CN- as a whole complex, and in vivo dissociation to free CN- is not prerequisite during the botanical assimilation of ferro-cyanide. Ferro-cyanide is likely metabolized by plants directly through an unknown pathway rather than the β-cyanoalanine pathway.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC: 40971256).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, People’s Republic of China

    Xiao-Zhang Yu, Fan Li & Kun Li

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  1. Xiao-Zhang Yu
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  2. Fan Li
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  3. Kun Li
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Correspondence to Xiao-Zhang Yu.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Yu, XZ., Li, F. & Li, K. A possible new mechanism involved in ferro-cyanide metabolism by plants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 1343–1350 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0489-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0489-1

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