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Selenium in plants pp 165–176Cite as

Manipulating Selenium Metabolism in Plants: A Simple Twist of Metabolic Fate Can Alter Selenium Tolerance and Accumulation

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Part of the book series: Plant Ecophysiology ((KLEC,volume 11))

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient for many organisms including humans. But like many trace elements, Se can be toxic at high concentrations and become a public health concern if it accumulates in soils or groundwater. Although higher plants don’t require Se, plants can still accumulate and metabolize Se via the sulfur assimilatory pathway. Genetic manipulation of plant selenium metabolism primarily stems from two areas of interest: it has the potential to improve the phytoremediation of Se in contaminated areas, and it may aid the development of Se-containing phytochemical compounds that possess health benefits. This review highlights studies that have successfully altered Se metabolism in plants, and concludes by focusing on novel genes and pathways that might be targeted to manipulate Se metabolic processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, 29526, USA

    Doug Van Hoewyk

  2. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, 34134, Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ozgur Çakir

Authors
  1. Doug Van Hoewyk
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  2. Ozgur Çakir
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Correspondence to Doug Van Hoewyk .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

    Elizabeth A.H. Pilon-Smits

  2. Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Lenny H.E. Winkel

  3. Environmental Sciences Program and Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois, USA

    Zhi-Qing Lin

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Van Hoewyk, D., Çakir, O. (2017). Manipulating Selenium Metabolism in Plants: A Simple Twist of Metabolic Fate Can Alter Selenium Tolerance and Accumulation. In: Pilon-Smits, E., Winkel, L., Lin, ZQ. (eds) Selenium in plants. Plant Ecophysiology, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56249-0_10

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