The Role of Zinc in Regulation of Plant Metabolism: What is Known to Date?
摘要
Zinc plays crucial roles in regulating various aspects of plant life. This is supported by numerous experimental data showing that zinc deficiency, beneficial low zinc level and toxic concentrations influence a myriad of plant responses. In this review, we focused on the role of zinc (Zn) in the regulation of cellular metabolism in plants and its crosstalk with the known molecular mechanisms of zinc action. Zinc has a crucial role in modulating a range of important metabolic pathways in plants at its low and toxic level: nitrogen, lipid metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, photosynthesis, secondary metabolism, mineral homeostasis, and others. Zinc binding to a range of proteins, lipid signaling, and gene expression are important to regulate zinc-dependent responses in plants. The uptake, translocation, accumulation, and retention of Zn in plants are mediated by a variety of transporter proteins. Therefore, knowledge of their regulatory pathways is a prerequisite to develop strategies for a controlled modulation of zinc-dependent metabolic events in plants. Further in-dept studies are needed to connect zinc-dependent signaling pathways with specific downstream molecular pathways regulating Zn status and metal stress tolerance.