Cloning and transcript analysis of type 2 metallothionein gene (SbMT-2) from extreme halophyte Salicornia brachiata and its heterologous expression in E. coli

Salicornia brachiata is an extreme halophyte growing luxuriantly in the coastal marshes and frequently exposed to various abiotic stresses including heavy metals. A full length type 2 metallothionein (SbMT-2) gene was isolated using RACE and its copy number was confirmed by southern blot analysis. Transcript expression of SbMT-2 gene was analyzed by semi-quantitative Rt-PCR and real time quantitative (qRT) PCR. Expression of SbMT-2 gene was up-regulated concurrently with zinc, copper, salt, heat and drought stress, down regulated by cold stress while unaffected under cadmium stress. Heterologous expression of SbMT-2 gene enhances metal accumulation and tolerance in E. coli. Metal-binding characteristics of SbMT-2 protein show its possible role in homeostasis and/or detoxification of heavy metals. Significant tolerance was observed by E. coli cells expressing recombinant SbMT-2 for Zn++, Cu++ and Cd++ compared to cells expressing GST only. Sequestration of zinc was 4-fold higher compared to copper and in contrast SbMT-2 inhibits the relative accumulation of cadmium by 1.23-fold compared to GST protein. Fusion protein SbMT-2 showed utmost affinity to zinc (approx. 2.5 fold to Cu++ and Cd++) followed by copper and cadmium ions with same affinity. Halophyte S. brachiata has inherent resilience of varying abiotic tolerance therefore SbMT-2 gene could be a potential candidate to be used for enhanced metal tolerance and heavy metal phytoremediation.

► SbMT-2 gene (421 bp): 5′ UTR—88 bp; ORF—237 bp encoding 78 amino acids.
► SbMT-2 expression: [↑]—Zn++, Cu++, salt, heat, drought and [↓]—cold.
► Metal tolerance and binding capacity: Zn++ > Cu++ > Cd++.
► SbMT-2 expression in E. coli.: Increased metal tolerance and metal ion accumulation.
► SbMT-2: A potential candidate for metal tolerance and heavy metal phytoremediation.