Gadolinium inhibits cadmium transport by blocking non-selective cation channels in rice seedlings

Non-selective cation channels (NSCCs) play important roles in uptake of heavy metals in plants. However, little information is available concerning the contribution of NSCCs to cadmium (Cd) transport in rice seedlings. Results from the hydroponic experiment showed that the inhibition of 2.7 μM Cd on the development of rice roots was alleviated by adding 0.1 mM gadolinium (Gd) in nutrient solution, companied by reduction of Cd content by 55.3% in roots and by 45.0% in shoots. Inhibition of Gd on Cd accumulation in cytoplasm fraction (F3) was much greater than that in cell walls (F1) and organelles (F2) in roots. After increasing concentrations of Mn and Zn in nutrient solution, adding 0.1 mM Gd resulted in reductions in Cd content by 89.1%, in micronutrients by 54.9% and in macronutrients by 5.4% in roots, respectively. Cd stress resulted in significant increase of PC2∼4 and free amino acids, but decrease of V-ATPase activity by 32.3% in roots. These results indicate that NSCCs make a great contribution to uptake of Cd in rice seedlings and opportunities for Cd to be transported by NSCCs can be efficiently reduced by blocking NSCCs and/or increasing essential microelements like Mn and Zn. [Display omitted] •Gd inhibits Cd transport by blocking non-selective cation channels (NSCCs).•Gd had little effect on the accumulation of macronutrients in roots and shoots.•NSCCs have the high priority to essential macro- and micro-nutrients over Cd.