Expression of sulfur uptake assimilation-related genes in response to cadmium,bensulfuron-methyl and their co-contamination in rice roots

The responses of sulfur （S） uptake assimilation-related genes＇ expression in roots of two rice cultivars to cadmium （Cd）, bensulfuron-methyl （BSM） and their co-contamination （Cd＋BSM） were investigated by gene-chip microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR （QRT-PCR） technology. Treatments of Cd and Cd＋BSM induced expression of sulfate transporter and permease genes, and promoted sulfate uptake in rice roots. Cd＋BSM could alleviate Cd toxicity to cv. Fengmeizhan seedlings, probably due to Cd＋BSM promoting greater S absorption by seedlings. Cd and Cd＋BSM induced expression of sulfate assimilation-related genes, and thus activated the sulfur assimilation pathway. Cd and Cd＋BSM induced expression of phytochelatin synthase and metallothionein genes, and induced expression of glutathione S-transferases （GSTs）, glutathione synthase （GS） and S- containing antioxidation enzyme genes, which detoxified Cd2＋. It is suggested that （to cope with the toxicity of Cd, BSM and their co-contamination） the S uptake and assimilation pathway was activated in rice roots by increased expression of related genes, thus enhancing the supply of organic S for synthesis of Cd or BSM resistance-related substances.