How is copper taken up and transported in plants? 

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for plants, involved in various physiological processes, but it is toxic in excess. Plants have developed sophisticated mechanisms for Cu uptake, transport, and homeostasis to navigate the fine line between deficiency and toxicity. High-affinity copper transporters (COPTs) mediate Cu uptake, partitioning, and redistribution in plants, with COPT1 localizing to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum, playing a crucial role in copper acquisition and homeostasis. These transporters are tightly regulated, with their activity and stability being modulated by copper levels through mechanisms such as proteasomal degradation. In Arabidopsis, the COPT family consists of several members, each with specific localizations and roles in Cu transport. For instance, COPT1, COPT2, and COPT6 are located at the plasma membrane, facilitating Cu uptake from the soil, while COPT3 and COPT5 are found in internal membranes, involved in intracellular Cu distribution. The regulation of Cu uptake and distribution is also influenced by transcription factors such as SPL7, which controls the expression of COPT transporters and other Cu homeostasis-related genes. Cu transport in plants involves both apoplastic (through the spaces between cells) and symplastic (through the cytoplasm of adjacent cells) pathways. Chelators can influence the translocation of Cu to shoot tissues by altering the pathways for Cu transport, with strong chelators like EDTA requiring increased membrane permeability for effective translocation. Additionally, plants utilize various strategies to manage Cu uptake and mitigate toxicity, including the involvement of microorganisms that can increase metal solubility or act as metal sinks. Furthermore, Cu is essential for the lignification process in plants, acting as a cofactor for laccases involved in the oxidative polymerization of monolignols to form lignin. This process is crucial for plant structural integrity and defense. The dual nature of Cu, being both essential and potentially toxic, underscores the importance of precise regulatory mechanisms in plants to maintain Cu homeostasis and ensure optimal growth and development.

Copper Trafficking in Plants and Its Implication on Cell Wall Dynamics

Copper is taken up by roots, transported through different plant tissues, and involved in cell wall dynamics. SPL7 transcription factor and Cu-proteins play crucial roles in regulating copper homeostasis.

Moving copper in plants

Copper is transported in plants by COPT family proteins, such as COPT5, which localizes to the tonoplast and complements Cu transporters in yeast mutants, aiding in Cu uptake and distribution.

Copper speciation and isotopic fractionation in plants: uptake and translocation mechanisms.

Copper uptake in plants involves redox cycling and sulfur-coordinated Cu(I) species, with tomatoes showing isotopic fractionation during translocation, while oats do not exhibit significant fractionation.

Transition Metal Transport in Plants and Associated Endosymbionts: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobia

Copper uptake in plants likely follows strategies similar to iron uptake, involving ZIP and Nramp transporters in root epidermal cells, enhancing solubility and competition in the rhizosphere.

Increased Uptake of Chelated Copper Ions by Lolium perenne Attributed to Amplified Membrane and Endodermal Damage

Copper uptake in plants involves chelation altering transport pathways, with chelators like EDTA and DTPA requiring symplastic transport due to increased membrane permeability and endodermal damage negation.

Copper uptake mechanism of Arabidopsis thaliana high-affinity COPT transporters.

Copper in plants is taken up through high-affinity COPT transporters, with Cu2+ being reduced to Cu+ for uptake, a process not involving significant changes in membrane potential.

Copper Uptake and Its Effects on Two Riparian Plant Species, the Native Urtica dioica, and the Invasive Fallopia japonica

Copper is taken up by plants from soil, with invasive Fallopia japonica potentially more efficient at detoxifying and accumulating copper compared to native Urtica dioica, giving it a competitive advantage.

Plant movement and LAC of it: How copper facilitates explosive seed dispersal

Copper uptake and transport in plants are regulated by transcription factors like SPL7 and CITF1, facilitating delivery to copper-dependent enzymes, including laccases involved in lignin synthesis for seed dispersal.

Copper: uptake, toxicity and tolerance in plants and management of Cu-contaminated soil

Copper is taken up by plants through various mechanisms and plays essential roles in enzymes and biochemical processes, aiding in growth and development while excess copper can have detrimental effects.

Arabidopsis COPPER TRANSPORTER 1 undergoes degradation in a proteasome-dependent manner.

Copper uptake and transport in plants involve the high-affinity copper transporter COPT1, which localizes to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum, undergoing proteasome-dependent degradation to regulate copper homeostasis.