Methylated
and inorganic thioarsenates have recently been reported
from paddy fields besides the better-known oxyarsenates. Methylated
thioarsenates are highly toxic for humans, yet their uptake, transformation,
and translocation in rice plants is unknown. Here, hydroponic experiments
with 20 day old rice plants showed that monomethylmonothioarsenate
(MMMTA), dimethylmonothioarsenate (DMMTA), and monothioarsenate (MTA)
were taken up by rice roots and could be detected in the xylem. Total
arsenic (As) translocation from roots to shoots was higher for plants
exposed to DMMTA, MTA, and dimethylarsenate (DMAV) compared
to MMMTA and monomethylarsenate (MMAV). All thioarsenates
were partially transformed in the presence of rice roots, but processes
and extents differed. MMMTA was subject to abiotic oxidation and largely
dethiolated to MMAV already outside the plant, probably
due to root oxygen loss. DMMTA and MTA were not oxidized abiotically.
Crude protein extracts showed rapid enzymatic reduction for MTA but
not for DMMTA. Our study implies that DMMTA has the highest potential
to contribute to total As accumulation in grains either as DMAV or partially as DMMTA. DMMTA has once been detected in rice
grains using enzymatic extraction. By routine acid extraction, DMMTA
is determined as DMAV and thus escapes regulation despite
its toxicity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.