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The OsZIP2 transporter is involved in root-to-shoot translocation and intervascular transfer of cadmium in rice
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  • Xin-Yuan Huang,
  • Meng-Zhen Li,
  • Da-Wei Hu,
  • Xiang-Qian Liu,
  • Rui Zhang,
  • Huan Liu,
  • Zhong Tang,
  • Fang-Jie Zhao
Xin-Yuan Huang
Nanjing Agricultural University State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Meng-Zhen Li
Nanjing Agricultural University State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement
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Da-Wei Hu
Nanjing Agricultural University State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement
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Xiang-Qian Liu
Nanjing Agricultural University State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement
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Rui Zhang
Nanjing Agricultural University State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement
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Huan Liu
Nanjing Agricultural University State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement
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Zhong Tang
Nanjing Agricultural University State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement
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Fang-Jie Zhao
Nanjing Agricultural University State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement
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Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that poses serious threats to human health. Rice is a major source of dietary Cd but how rice plants transport Cd to the grain is not fully understood. Here, we characterize the function of the ZIP (ZRT, IRT-like protein) family protein, OsZIP2, in the root-to-shoot translocation of Cd and intervascular transfer of Cd in nodes. OsZIP2 is localized at the plasma membrane and exhibited Cd 2+ transport activity when heterologously expressed in yeast. OsZIP2 is strongly expressed in xylem parenchyma cells in roots and in enlarged vascular bundles in nodes. Knockout of OsZIP2 significantly enhanced root-to-shoot translocation of Cd and alleviated the inhibition of root elongation by excess Cd stress; whereas overexpression of OsZIP2 decreased Cd translocation to shoots and resulted in Cd sensitivity. Knockout of OsZIP2 increased Cd allocation to the flag leaf but decreased Cd allocation to the panicle and grain. We further reveal that the variation of OsZIP2 expression level contributes to grain Cd concentration among rice germplasms. Our results demonstrate that OsZIP2 functions in root-to-shoot translocation of Cd in roots and intervascular transfer of Cd in nodes, which can be used for breeding low Cd rice varieties.