Characterization of a cDNA from Beta maritima that confers nickel tolerance in yeast

•We identified NIC6, a protein of unknown function.•NIC6 helps yeast cells to tolerate toxic levels of nickel concentration.•NIC6 localizes in multivesicular structures in tobacco epidermal cells.

Nickel is an essential micronutrient due to its involvement in many enzymatic reactions as a cofactor. However, excess of this element is toxic to biological systems. Here, we constructed a cDNA library from Beta maritima and screened it in the yeast system to identify genes that confer resistance to toxic levels of nickel. A cDNA clone (NIC6), which encodes for a putative membrane protein with unknown function, was found to help yeast cells to tolerate toxic levels of nickel. A GFP fused form of Nic6 protein was localized to multivesicular structures in tobacco epidermal cells. Thus, our results suggest a possible role of Nic6 in nickel and intracellular ion homeostasis.