Gain and loss of gene function shaped the nickel hyperaccumulation trait in Noccaea caerulescens

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, we have seen an increase in metal pollution on the Earth's surface, a trend that is likely to accelerate with the development of carbon-free energies, which are metal-intensive.
Metal-bearing plant species, including metal hyperaccumulator plants, are models of adaptation to these polluted environments and are a source of inspiration for the development of phytotechnologies aimed at limiting the impact of this pollution on our ecosystem.

A team from the LRSV, which benefited from a Tulip welcome package, obtained the first high-quality assembly of the genome of the metal hyperaccumulator species Noccaea caerulescens (Brassicaceaea), found at several metal-bearing sites in Occitanie. And then used this new genetic resource to identify the genes involved in nickel hyperaccumulation, including the ortholog of the IRT1 membrane transporter, previously known for its role in iron transport.

This research paves the way for a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in metal tolerance and accumulation in plants, as well as the development of new phytotechnologies.