Phloem-specific overexpression of AtOPT6 alters glutathione, phytochelatin, and cadmium distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana

The Arabidopsis oligopeptide transporter AtOPT6 is reportedly involved in the long-distance transport of thiol compounds into sink organs. In the present study, transgenic Arabidopsis lines overexpressing AtOPT6 under the control of a phloem-specific promoter, sucrose-proton symporter 2 ( pSUC2 ), were analyzed for thiol and cadmium (Cd) distribution during the reproductive stage, both with and without Cd exposure. Phloem specific AtOPT6 -overexpressing lines did not exhibit an evident impact on bolting time. In the absence of Cd exposure, these transgenic lines showed significantly enhanced transport of endogenous glutathione into siliques, accompanied by a reduction in the glutathione content of flowers and roots during the reproductive stage. Additionally, exposure of the roots of the phloem specific AtOPT6 -overexpressing lines to Cd altered the distribution of thiol compounds, resulting in an increase in the content of phytochelatins in sink organs, contributing to a significant elevation of Cd contents in reproductive sink. Our findings confirm the crucial role of AtOPT6 in unloading phytochelatin-Cd conjugates from the phloem into sink organ. • Phloem-specific AtOPT6 overexpression didn't affect bolting time in Arabidopsis. • Phloem-specific AtOPT6 overexpression increased silique glutathione without Cd. • Phloem-specific AtOPT6 overexpression raised Cd and PCs in sink organs, confirming unloading PC-Cd in sink organs.