Gold phytomining. A review of the relevance of this technology to mineral extraction in the 21st century

Wilson-Corral, Víctor; Anderson, Christopher; Rodríguez-López, Mayra

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.07.037

Cited by 71 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The results of this study extend our knowledge of substrate specificity of COPT2 from the Cu to Au. Considering the Au accumulation property of certain plants, elucidation of Au transport mechanisms has a significant relevance as these plants could be used as an effective tool for the ‘phytomining’ of gold from Au-rich ores as well 35 , 36 . This report has much significance for developing a strategy to enhance Au uptake for plant-based Au nanoparticles production or for the purpose of gold phytomining from Au ores rich sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COPT2, a plasma membrane located copper transporter, is involved in the uptake of Au in Arabidopsis

Tiwari

Venkatachalam

Peñarrubia

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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The mechanism of gold nanoparticle formation and genes involved in such processes, especially Au transport in plants are not understood. Previous reports pointed to the probable role of COPT2 in Au transport based on the transcript accumulation of COPT2 under Au exposure. Here, we provide evidence revealing the additional role of COPT2 for Au mobilization in yeast and Arabidopsis. The COPT2 transcripts significantly accumulated in the root of Arabidopsis under Au exposure. The expression of COPT2 restores Cu uptake ability in ctr1Δctr3Δ mutants and leads to Au sensitivity in yeast, which is comparable to Cu in growth kinetics experiments. The metal measurement data showed that the Au level was increased in COPT2, expressing yeast cells compared to vector transformed control. The copt2 mutant of Arabidopsis displayed a similar growth pattern to that of Col-0 under Au treatment. However, a notable phenotypic difference was noticed in three-week-old plants treated with and without Au. Consistent with yeast, Au uptake was reduced in the copt2 mutant of Arabidopsis. Together, these results clearly reveal the Au uptake capability of COPT2 in yeast and Arabidopsis. This is the first report showing the potential role of any transporter towards uptake and accumulation of Au in plants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COPT2, a plasma membrane located copper transporter, is involved in the uptake of Au in Arabidopsis

Tiwari

Venkatachalam

Peñarrubia

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…It must be known that which trace elements are useful for the plant so that the same nanoparticles may be used. Several investigators have demonstrated that gold can be accumulated, to varying degrees, by plant species including B. juncea , B. campestris , Trifolium repens , Sorghum helense , Raphanus sativus , Kalanchoe serrate and Helianthus annuus [ 65 ]. Studies related to gold nanoparticle exposure and plant growth have been reported in the recent years [ 20 ].…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineered Gold Nanoparticles and Plant Adaptation Potential

2016

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Use of metal nanoparticles in biological system has recently been recognised although little is known about their possible effects on plant growth and development. Nanoparticles accumulation, translocation, growth response and stress modulation in plant system is not well understood. Plants exposed to gold and gold nanoparticles have been demonstrated to exhibit both positive and negative effects. Their growth and yield vary from species to species. Cytoxicity of engineered gold nanoparticles depends on the concentration, particle size and shape. They exhibit increase in vegetative growth and yield of fruit/seed at lower concentration and decrease them at higher concentration. Studies have shown that the gold nanoparticles exposure has improved free radical scavenging potential and antioxidant enzymatic activities and alter micro RNAs expression that regulate different morphological, physiological and metabolic processes in plants. These modulations lead to improved plant growth and yields. Prior to the use of gold nanoparticles, it has been suggested that its cost may be calculated to see if it is economically feasible.

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“…As one of the least reactive chemical elements in the environment, gold exists predominantly in a zero-valent state (Au0). However, studies have demonstrated that gold can be accumulated, to varying degrees, by plant species including Brassica juncea , B. campestris , Trifolium repens , Sorghum helense , Raphanus sativus , Kalanchoe serrate and Helianthus annuus , with species-specific differences in the rates of gold uptake and distribution in planta [3]. Although gold inhibits plant growth [4]–[8], the exact mechanisms for this inhibition are not well understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Toxicity, Uptake, Nanoparticle Formation and Genetic Response of Plants to Gold

et al. 2014

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We have studied the physiological and genetic responses of Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Arabidopsis) to gold. The root lengths of Arabidopsis seedlings grown on nutrient agar plates containing 100 mg/L gold were reduced by 75%. Oxidized gold was subsequently found in roots and shoots of these plants, but gold nanoparticles (reduced gold) were only observed in the root tissues. We used a microarray-based study to monitor the expression of candidate genes involved in metal uptake and transport in Arabidopsis upon gold exposure. There was up-regulation of genes involved in plant stress response such as glutathione transferases, cytochromes P450, glucosyl transferases and peroxidases. In parallel, our data show the significant down-regulation of a discreet number of genes encoding proteins involved in the transport of copper, cadmium, iron and nickel ions, along with aquaporins, which bind to gold. We used Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) to study nanoparticle uptake from hydroponic culture using ionic gold as a non-nanoparticle control and concluded that nanoparticles between 5 and 100 nm in diameter are not directly accumulated by plants. Gold nanoparticles were only observed in plants exposed to ionic gold in solution. Together, we believe our results imply that gold is taken up by the plant predominantly as an ionic form, and that plants respond to gold exposure by up-regulating genes for plant stress and down-regulating specific metal transporters to reduce gold uptake.

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Gold phytomining. A review of the relevance of this technology to mineral extraction in the 21st century

Cited by 71 publications

References 47 publications

COPT2, a plasma membrane located copper transporter, is involved in the uptake of Au in Arabidopsis

COPT2, a plasma membrane located copper transporter, is involved in the uptake of Au in Arabidopsis

Engineered Gold Nanoparticles and Plant Adaptation Potential

Investigating the Toxicity, Uptake, Nanoparticle Formation and Genetic Response of Plants to Gold

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