Brassinosteroid: arsenic uptake and transport in rice

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroid hormones, which play essential roles in plant growth and development and also confer tolerance to a wide range of abiotic stresses. Considering the growing importance of the role BRs in stress responses and protective role against toxicity of heavy metals in plants, we undertook a study to analyse of the ten genes associated with arsenic accumulation and transportation [OsHACs (OsHAC1;1 and OsHAC1;2), OsPht1, Lsi1, Lsi2, OsGrxs (OsGrx_C7 and OsGrx_C2.1), OsCLT1, OsNRAMP1 and OsABCC1] in 24-epibrassinosteroid (EBR), a BR, treated rice plants (Rajendra Kasturi) grown in naturally arsenic contaminated soil. Expression profiling of genes involved in arsenic uptake and its translocation were performed using qRT-PCR analysis. The identification and characterization of BR responsive genes involved in arsenic accumulation and transportation of arsenic in rice plant, open doors for further analysis of these genes as targets for reducing arsenic absorption in rice.