posted on 2024-03-14, 15:08authored byJun Hyeok Kim, Gretchen Kroh, Hsiu-An Chou, Shih-Hung Yang, Addison Frese, Michael Lynn, Kung-Hui Chu, Libo Shan
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), with significant
health
risks to humans and wildlife, bioaccumulate in plants. However, the
mechanisms underlying plant uptake remain poorly understood. This
study deployed transcriptomic analysis coupled with genetic and physiological
studies using Arabidopsis to investigate how plants
respond to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a long-chain PFAS.
We observed increased expressions of genes involved in plant uptake
and transport of phosphorus, an essential plant nutrient, suggesting
intertwined uptake and transport processes of phosphorus and PFOS.
Furthermore, PFOS-altered response differed from the phosphorus deficiency
response, disrupting phosphorus metabolism to increase phosphate transporter
(PHT) transcript. Interestingly, pht1;2 and pht1;8 mutants showed reduced sensitivity to
PFOS compared to that of the wild type, implying an important role
of phosphate transporters in PFOS sensing. Furthermore, PFOS accumulated
less in the shoots of the pht1;8 mutant, indicating
the involvement of PHT1;8 protein in translocating PFOS from roots
to shoots. Supplementing phosphate improved plant’s tolerance
to PFOS and reduced PFOS uptake, suggesting that manipulating the
phosphate source in PFOS-contaminated soils may be a promising strategy
for minimizing PFOS uptake by edible crops or promoting PFOS uptake
during phytoremediation. This study highlighted the critical role
of phosphate sensing and transport system in the uptake and translocation
of PFOS in plants.