Effects of Rare Earth Elements and REE-Binding Proteins on Physiological Responses in Plants

Title: Effects of Rare Earth Elements and REE-Binding Proteins on Physiological Responses in Plants

Volume: 19 Issue: 2

Author(s): Dongwu Liu, Xue Wang and Zhiwei Chen

Affiliation:

Keywords: Rare earth elements, REE-binding proteins, physiological responses, plant, gadolinium (Gd), plasmalemma, stele cells, X-ray microanalyses, photosystem II (PS II), dysprosium (Dy)

Abstract: Rare earth elements (REEs), which include 17 elements in the periodic table, share chemical properties related to a similar external electronic configuration. REEs enriched fertilizers have been used in China since the 1980s. REEs could enter the cell and cell organelles, influence plant growth, and mainly be bound with the biological macromolecules. REE-binding proteins have been found in some plants. In addition, the chlorophyll activities and photosynthetic rate can be regulated by REEs. REEs could promote the protective function of cell membrane and enhance the plant resistance capability to stress produced by environmental factors, and affect the plant physiological mechanism by regulating the Ca²⁺ level in the plant cells. The focus of present review is to describe how REEs and REE-binding proteins participate in the physiological responses in plants.

Cite this article as:

Liu Dongwu, Wang Xue and Chen Zhiwei, Effects of Rare Earth Elements and REE-Binding Proteins on Physiological Responses in Plants, Protein & Peptide Letters 2012; 19 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986612799080121