Chromium (Cr) soil contamination is a critical global environmental concern, with hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]) being especially perilous due to its high mobility, bioavailability, and phytotoxicity. This poses a significant threat to the cultivation of crops, particularly rice, where the mechanisms of Cr(VI) absorption remain largely unexplored. This study uncovered a competitive interaction between Cr(VI) and essential nutrients—sulfate and phosphate during the uptake process. Notably, deficiencies in sulfate and phosphate were associated with a marked increase in Cr(VI) accumulation in rice, reaching up to 76.5 % and 77.7 %, respectively. Employing q-PCR, this study identified significant up-regulation of the sulfate transporter gene, , and the phosphate transporter gene, , in response to Cr(VI) stress. Genetic knockout studies have confirmed the crucial role of in Cr(VI) uptake, with its deletion leading to a 36.1 % to 69.6 % decrease in Cr uptake by rice roots. Similarly, the knockout of resulted in an 18.1 % to 25.7 % decrease in root Cr accumulation. These findings highlight the key role of the sulfate transporter OsSultr1;2 in Cr(VI) uptake, with phosphate transporters also contributing significantly to the process. These insights are valuable for developing rice varieties with reduced Cr(VI) accumulation, ensuring the safety of rice grain production.

中文翻译：

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硫酸盐和磷酸盐转运蛋白 OsSultr1;2 和 OsPht1;1 介导的水稻 (Oryza sativa L.) 六价铬吸收


铬 (Cr) 土壤污染是一个重要的全球环境问题，其中六价铬 (Cr[VI]) 由于其高流动性、生物利用度和植物毒性而尤其危险。这对农作物的种植构成了重大威胁，特别是水稻，其中六价铬的吸收机制在很大程度上尚未被探索。这项研究揭示了在吸收过程中 Cr(VI) 与必需营养素（硫酸盐和磷酸盐）之间的竞争性相互作用。值得注意的是，硫酸盐和磷酸盐的缺乏与水稻中 Cr(VI) 积累的显着增加有关，分别达到 76.5% 和 77.7%。本研究采用 q-PCR，发现硫酸盐转运蛋白基因 和磷酸盐转运蛋白基因 响应 Cr(VI) 胁迫而显着上调。基因敲除研究证实了在 Cr(VI) 吸收中的关键作用，其缺失导致水稻根部对 Cr 的吸收减少 36.1% 至 69.6%。同样，敲除 导致根部 Cr 积累减少 18.1% 至 25.7%。这些发现强调了硫酸盐转运蛋白 OsSultr1;2 在 Cr(VI) 吸收中的关键作用，磷酸盐转运蛋白也对该过程做出了重大贡献。这些见解对于开发减少Cr(VI)积累的水稻品种、确保水稻粮食生产安全具有重要价值。