NtZIP5A/B is involved in the regulation of Zn/Cu/Fe/Mn/Cd homeostasis in tobacco.

Plants grow in soils with varying concentrations of microelements, often in the presence of toxic metals e.g. Cd.

Tobacco as an efficient metal accumulator.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is an important industrial crop plant. However, it efficiently accumulates metals, primarily cadmium (Cd) and also zinc (Zn), in its leaves.

Regulation and Function of Metal Uptake Transporter NtNRAMP3 in Tobacco.

Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein () genes encode proteins with low substrate specificity, important for maintaining metal cross homeostasis in the cell. The role of these proteins in tobacco, an important crop plant with wide application in the tobacco industry as well as in phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soils, remains unknown. Here, we identified NtNRAMP3, the closest homologue to NRAMP3 proteins from other plant species, and functionally characterized it.

Suppression of / Changes Zn and Cd Root-to-Shoot Translocation in a Zn/Cd Status-Dependent Manner.

In tobacco, the efficiency of Zn translocation to shoots depends on Zn/Cd status. Previous studies pointed to the specific contribution of root parts in the regulation of this process, as well as the role of / (from the ZIP family; Zrt Irt-like Proteins). Here, to verify this hypothesis, / RNAi lines were generated.