Pb Accumulation Related to Plant Hormones and Its Mechanism Based on Genes Expression and Transporter Activities in Hyperaccumulator Arabis alpina

1. Introduction

Soil heavy metal pollution has attracted much attention worldwide. Soil Pb pollution not only affects the seed germination and growth of plants, but also threats the human body through the food chain [1]. Plant endogenous hormones involved in the regulation of plants growth and development could reduce the toxicity of heavy metals to plants and enhance the tolerance and resistance of plants [2,3,4]. Plants endogenous hormones and synthetic growth regulators play a vital role in plants resistance to heavy metals [5,6,7]. Resistance of plants Atractylodes macrocephala to Pb could be improved by ABA[8]. Exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin could promote the growth of plants and improve resistance to heavy metals, reduce Cd contents in shoot and root of wheat [9,10].

Auxin (IAA) is a substance synthesized in plants to regulate plant growth and development, which can promote cell division, elongation, the differentiation and formation of new organs, and has an important influence on plant growth and development, physiology and biochemistry[11,12]. Application for IAA could promote the absorption of Pb in Zea Mays, Picris divaricata, Helianthus annuus and Sedum alfredii [13,14,15], and enhance the growth and Cd accumulation of Solanum nigrum [16]. Pb could be transported into root cells through membranes transporters with energy-dependence, and transfer from surface to xylem trough apoplast and symplast pathways and from root to shoot through xylem [17]. Inner flow rate in root and translocation rate from root to shoot of Cd²⁺ in Malus hupehensis seedling decreased with foliage spraying ABA[18]. The transporters related to symplast pathway in Pb hyperaccumulators mainly include CAX (cation exchangers), HMA (heavy metal ATPase) and ABC (ATP-binding cassette transporter). CAXs are kind of transporters of divalent ion coordinating the redistribution of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and other cations dependent on the energy generated by the proton gradient [19]. HMAs are one of proton pumps that use the energy released by intracellular ATP to reversely transport protons out of the cell across the plasma membrane. ABC is widely located in plasma membrane involved in the transport of chelates PCs-heavy metal into vacuole of cell to detoxification of heavy metal and regulation of auxin dynamic balance [20,21]. ABC participated in regulating auxin transport and distribution in Malus domesica and Passiflora edulis[20,22]. Under Cu stress, the expression of auxin reporter gene DR5: GUS in cotyledons of Arabidopsis thaliana changed[23,24]. Exogenous application of IAA may increase the expression of auxin synthesis related genes in plants [25]. Heavy metals may affect the expression of auxin metabolism related genes, such as GH3 gene family. GH3 gene family is regulated on Golgi apparatus, combining IAA with amino acids to reduce the activities of IAA[26,27]. Under heavy metal stress, plants can convert free IAA into bound IAA, avoiding excessive IAA degradation[25].

Arabis alpina Var. parviflora Franch belongs to the Arabis genus of Cruciferous family,which is one of hyperaccumulators to Pb. A. alpina. was used as the experimental material to investigate the responses of plant endogenous hormones to Pb and its regulation mechanism. The aims are to understand: (1) responses of plant hormones and related gene expression to Pb in A. alpina under Pb stress; (2) responses of the activities of heavy metal transporters to foliage spraying IAA under Pb stress. It is important to further explore the plant hormones mechanism of hyperaccumulating Pb of A. alpina.

2. Results

2.1. Effect of Pb on Contents of Pb and Endogenous Hormones in Arabis alpina

Contents of total Pb and Pb in subcellular distribution in roots and leaves of A. alpina increased with increase in Pb treatment concentrations (Table 1).

Among Pb contents in subcellular distribution, the Pb content in cell wall of roots and leaves was the highest and kept stable under 100 and 300 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatments. Compering to 100 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatment, Pb contents in organelle components of leaves under 300 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatment increased by 115.0%. Pb contents in soluble components (vacuoles) of roots and leaves increased with increase in Pb treatment concentrations. Compering to 100 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatment, Pb contents in soluble components of roots and leaves under 300 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatment increased by 896.3% and 238.8%, respectively. The BCF under 100 and 300 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ was 2.48 and 2.05, while TF 0.74 and 1.02, respectively.

The contents of endogenous hormones in leaves and roots increased under Pb treatment concentrations. The contents of auxin, abscisic acid and cytokinin in leaves and roots with 100 and 300 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatments were significantly higher than those with control (0 mg/kg Pb²⁺ treatment). Comparing to control, contents of auxin in roots and leaves under 100 mg∙kg^-1 Pb treatment increased by 176.19% and 585.29%, respectively. Contents of abscisic acid in roots and leaves under 100 mg∙kg^-1 Pb treatment increased by 96.91% and 44.83%, respectively. Gibberellin contents in leaves treated 300 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ were significantly higher than that with control (Table 2).

2.2. Effect of Pb on Gene Expression Related to Plant Hormones Dased on RNA-seq analysis

Compared with CK (0 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺), there were four different expression genes related to plant hormones in roots of A. alpina under 100 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatment. Gene expression of Unigene0116550 (AaGDCST) related to auxin transport was up-adjusted, which was homologous to Coccomyxa subellipsoidea C-169 (Log2(fc)=5.82, FDR<0.01). Gene expressions of Unigene0020496 and Unigene0086759 in root, which were related to auxin-repressed 12.5 kDa protein (Log2(fc)=-3.89, FDR<0.05) and auxin-responsive GH3 family protein (Log2(fc)=-1.14, FDR<0.01) homologous to Dorcoceras hygrometricum and Arabidopsis thaliana, respectively, were down-adjusted . Gene expressions of Unigene0020496 in leaf homologous to Dorcoceras hygrometricum were down-adjusted (Log2(fc)=-3.13, FDR<0.01)(Figure 1). Compared with CK (0 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺), there was one different expression gene Unigene0020496 down-adjusted related to auxin-repressed 12.5 kDa protein in leaves of A. alpina under 100 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatment.

Gene expression of Unigene0004954 related to cytokinin hydroxylase-like in roots of A. alpina under 100 mg·kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatment was down-adjusted, which was homologous to Brassica napus (Log2(fc)=-3.81, FDR<0.01).

2.3. Effect of foliage spraying IAA on Pb contents and activities of transporters in Arabis alpina

Pb contents in leaves under foliage spraying IAA treatment increased by 29.81% comparing to non-spraying IAA treatment (Table 3). Pb contents in symplast sap under foliage spraying IAA treatment was 4.64 mg/kg, which was higher than that with non spraying IAA treatment. Pb contents in apoplast, xylem and phloem saps under foliage spraying IAA treatment did not significantly change comparing with non spraying IAA treatment (Table 4).

Under Pb treatment, the activities of CAX and HMA in roots of A. alpina increased by 9.62% and 8.79% with foliage spraying IAA, while activity of ABC decreased by 21.94%. Under Pb treatment, the activities of CAX and HMA in leaves of A. alpina decreased by 13.04% and 7.19% with foliage spraying.

3. Discussion

Under Pb stress, the contents of Pb in vacuole increased and transported from root to shoot, which suggested the strong detoxication of A. alpina to Pb. The reason should be related to Pb transportation ability and signaling conductive. Plant hormone contents in A. alpina leaves and roots significant were increased under Pb treatment. In order to response to environmental stress, the contents of endogenous hormones in plants increased, which can induce plant resistance and maintain the growth of plants, enhance nutrients transportation and participate in heavy metal stress signaling conductive in plants [16,28,29,30,31]. Contents of auxin and ABA in leaves and roots of A. alpina increased under Pb treatment to maintain the growth of A. alpina and reduced the toxicity of Pb. Auxin join the enhancement of plant tolerance to heavy metals [32] and decrease the toxicity of heavy metals, increase biomass and promote the Pb absorption of Zea mays and Picris dirvaricata [13,15] found that contents of ascorbic acid, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities in Kandelia candel leaves increased under the application of exogenous methyl jasmonic acid, which could enhance the resistance of plants to Cd stress[33]. The expression of genes related to auxin synthesis can be stimulated under low concentration of Cu to increase the IAA content, such as amino synthase gene AUR3, anthranilic acid synthase gene (ASA and ASB) and tryptophan synthesis related genes (TSA1 and TSB1) [25]. Hyperaccumulator or tolerant plants could synthesize more IAA than ordinary plants under heavy metal stress, which maybe due to mechanism of rapidly self-regulate endogenous auxin levels [34]. The active auxin level, which is suitable for plant growth and conducive to heavy metal absorption, can be rapidly activated under the heavy metal stress.

One of important physiological responses of plants to adversity environment is an increase in ABA content [35](Liu and Zhang, 2017). The contents of ABA and gibberellin GA3 in the seedling leaves of Cucumis sativus increased with the increase of Pb treatments concentration. IAA and cytokinin promote the elongation and division of plant cells, respectively. The contents of IAA and cytokinin increased, which promoted the growth of Cucumis sativus seedling leaves under 100mg·L^-1 Pb treatment. The role of gibberellin in promoting plant growth, breaking dormancy, improving tolerance has been paid more and more attention [36,37]. The content of gibberellin in root increased gradually with the increase of Pb treatments concentration. There is a certain relationship between the resistance of A. alpina to Pb and gibberellin. The response of plant hormones to environmental stress may also be related to the balance between different hormones [30]. In terms of endogenous hormone balance, it is possible that A. alpina can maintain higher levels of auxin IAA under Pb stress, which is conducive to maintaining the growth of plants. The possible reason is that as one of Pb hyperaccumulator, A. alpina has a strong detoxification ability to Pb, which can isolate or detoxify Pb and even stimulate the growth of plants. The reason may be that compared with the increase of IAA, the increase of CTK in A. alpina is less, slowing down the rate of cell division, which may lead to a decrease of plant growth rate and the increase of plant leaves or roots density[28].

Plant hormones may be the initiating factors of resistance gene expression. The balance of plant hormones under environmental stress leads to changes in metabolic pathways, including affecting the expression of genes related to auxin metabolism [38,39]. The genes expression of plant hormone are related to the difference of Pb treatment intensity and plant tissue. Auxin response proteins are classified into three groups: auxin/indole acetic acid binding protein(TIR1 and ABP1), AUX/IAA repressed protein (ARP) and auxin response factor (ARF) [40,41,42,43]. Auxin-binding protein ABP1 located in cytomembrane. The surface receptor of cytomembrane recognizes the auxin signal and binds with auxin molecules to conduct the auxin into the cell and finally into the nucleus through the endoplasmic reticulum system. In the nucleus, the TIR1 receptor recognizes auxin signals and binds to auxin molecules to activate the auxin response factor (ARF) to regulate the expression of auxin response genes. Auxin response genes mainly include those activated by auxin signal (GH3 (Gretchen Hagen 3), SAUR(small auxin up RNA) and AUX/IAA(auxin/indole-acetic acid-inducible)) and those inhibited by auxin (ARP and DRM(dormancy related protein gene))[44,45,46]. The overexpression of MdIAA24 was able to enhance root tolerance to Cd of apple [47]. There are auxin-related gene expressions differences, which are down or up regulated. Under Pb treatment, the expression of Unigene0116550(AaGDCST) in root of A. alpina was up-adjusted, which was related to auxin transporter. The auxin transporter family located in cytomembrane includes: AUX1/LAX family, auxin output vector PIN family and ATP-binding cassette B/P-glycoprotein(ABCB) family[48,49,50]. The Unigene0116550 gene (AaGDCST) expression of auxin transporter was up-adjusted, which indicates that cell membrane receptors with foliage spraying IAA should be stimulated to recognize auxin, transmit auxin signals into cells, and induce increase of the activity of transporters on the cell membrane. Auxin regulates cytomembrane proton pump HMA to activate extracellular acidification, causes plasma membrane ion channel opening or activate plasma membrane ion movement, and promotes the migration of Pb symplast pathway.

The expression of ARP gene was up-regulated by biological and abiotic stresses. Overexpression of OsARP1 gene enhanced resistance of rice to Magnaporthe oryzae[51]. The up-regulated expression of ARP gene in pepper was affected by abiotic stress [52]. The ARP gene is down-regulated by auxin signal. The expression of Unigene0020496 (auxin-repressed 12.5 kDa protein, AaARP) in root and leaves were down-adjusted, which should be due to the expression of AaARP gene in roots of A. alpina was inhibited by leaf auxin application.

In order to maintain the homeostasis of IAA under heavy metal stress, plants quickly transform IAA into a bound state. The function of the IAA binding state is to transport and store excess IAA, so that it is not decomposed. The IAA binding state can be hydrolysis and released when necessary to maintain the normal physiological function of the plant. GH3 protein can promote the binding of various hormones to amino acids and regulate the homeostasis of different hormones in the body. GH3 protein can improve plant resistance by activating salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene signaling pathways[53]. The MdGH3 gene (MdGH3-5, MdGH3-6, MdGH3-7and MdGH3-8) of apple was significantly up-regulated under different plant hormones and biological/abiotic stresses, especially drought, low temperature and salt treatment[34]. The expression of Unigene0086759 (auxin-responsive GH3 family, AaGH3.10) in root was down-adjusted. That indicates that plants do not need to convert free IAA into bound IAA, but use IAA to activate the activities of heavy metal transporters and migrate heavy metals to the aboveground part with foliage spraying IAA under Pb stress.

The difference of cytokinin related genes is only shown in the root of A.alpina. Application of cytokinin can increase biomass of Helianthus annuus in the leaf under Pb treatment [54]. Exogenous application of cytokinin (6-BA) increased the aboveground biomass and Cd content, alleviated the toxicity of Cd leaves of Sedum alfredii [55]. Cytokinin can improve the activity of plant antioxidant enzymes, alleviate the production of reactive oxygen species free radical, regulate the expression of chloroplast protein genes, and increase protein content [56,57].

The absorption, transport and accumulation of heavy metals in plants include some steps, for example, absorbed by the root system through apoplast and symplast, transported to the phloem through the xylem, and redistributed to the stem, leaf and grain [58]. The relationship between IAA content and Pb content in xylem was inconsistent, which suggested that the xylem transport of Pb was not directly related to auxin content. With foliar spraying of IAA, the migration of Pb symplast pathway increased. The mechanism of IAA is to stimulate the perception of hormone molecular receptors on the cell membrane, thus activating signal transduction pathways and up-regulating related transduction genes. Numerous plant proteins are involved in the transport and uptake of heavy metals, including CAX, HMA and ABC [27,55,59,60]. The activities of HMA and CAX in root of A. alpina increased with foliage spraying IAA. The reason might be that auxin regulates HMA to activate extracellular acidification, causing plasma membrane ion channel opening or activating plasma membrane ion movement[16,61]. The CAXs depended on HMA to apply energy to transfer heavy metals into vacuoles or excreted to outside of cell [47,62]. Overexpression of MdIAA24 decreased the expression of Cd absorption related genes MdCAX2 in apple, resulting in reduced Cd accumulation and enhancing Cd resistance[47]. The cell membrane was sensitive to auxin signal transduction, and showed an increase in Pb content in the symplast pathway, but no change in Pb content in other pathways. The Pb content in apoplast, xylem and phloem remained unchanged, which was not regulated by IAA on transporters [63,64](Fang and Shen, 2003; Zhou et al., 2007). ATP-binding cassette B (ABC) is one of the auxin transporter family located in cytomembrane and one of Pb transporter located in tonoplast. The activity of ABC decreased under IAA application, which resulted in Pb transportation with symplast pathway rather than stored in vacuole. Pb in xylem transfer from root to shoot accompanying with water and nutrient transportation. Hadi et al. (2010) reported that the biomass of maize under the application of IAA increase and thus the accumulation of Pb increase [13]. IAA can promote the transfer of nutrient elements and Cd from roots to the fast-growing parts in the shoots of Sedum sedum by regulating the relationship of source-pool[9].

4. Materials and Methods

4.1. Materials

The seeds of A.alpina were collected from the Chihong lead-zinc mine district in Huize county, Yunnan Province, China, which located at 103°03′-103°55′E, 25°48′-26°28′N, and 2 494 m above sea level. The basic physical and chemical properties of flue-cured tobacco substrate used in pot experiments were 4.49 pH, organic matter 431.75 g∙kg^-1, available phosphorus content 81.45 mg∙kg^-1, available nitrogen content 437.50 mg∙kg^-1 , available potassium content 6220.17 mg∙kg^-1 and Pb content 24.6 mg∙kg^-1.

4.2. Experimental Design

Some 2 kg of flue-cured tobacco substrate were weighed and put into a pot with a length of 33 cm,width 24.5 cm and a height of 13.5 cm. Some 40 seeds of A.alpina evenly sown in each pot and sprayed 20 mL of water every three days. After the seed sprouting, thinning was done to 30 plants seedling per pot. Tap water was sprayed every 5 days and the substrate kept loose and moist for three months.

Then Pb²⁺ (0, 100, 300 mg∙kg^-1) prepared with Pb(CH₃COO)₂ were added to pots with flue-cured tobacco substrate, and each treatment with three replicates. After 15 days, six seedling of A.alpina was replanted. After 20 days, the plants were collected. Pb contents in apoplast and symplast saps in roots, xylem and phloem saps were analyzed. Pb subcellular distribution contents and plant hormones (auxin, abscisic acid, cytokinin and gibberellin) contents in roots and shoots were determined. Some roots and leaves samples of A.alpina with 0 and 100 mg∙kg^-1 Pb²⁺ treatments were putted in liquid nitrogen tank rapidly for RNA-seq analysis.

100 mg∙kg^-1 Pb²⁺ prepared with Pb(CH₃COO)₂ were added to pots with flue-cured tobacco substrate, and each treatment with three replicates. After 15 days, six seedling of A.alpina was replanted. 20 mg∙L^-1 IAA was foliage spraying at 18:00 every two days on the two surface of leaf till forming water drops. After 20 days, Pb contents in apoplast and symplast saps in roots, xylem and phloem saps were analyzed. Pb contents and activities of in CAX, HMA and ABC in roots and leaves were determined.

4.3. Determination of Indicators

Contents of plant hormones：auxin, gibberellin, abscisic acid and cytokinin contents were analyzed with the ELISA assay kit microplate analyzer (Rayto RT-6100). Contents of plant hormones were determined with liquid chromatograph HPLC-MS/MS (LCMS-8040, Shimadzu, Japan). The determination condition was 0.3 mL∙min^-1 flow rate, ODS volume(1.6μm, 75×2mm)(shim-packXR-ODSIII). Solution A(0.05% methanoic acid 5 mM ammonium formate) and solution B(methyl alcohol) were the mobile phase composition to separate based on gradient method.

Pb contents in plant: some 2.000 g of a homogenized plant sample were weighed and placed in 150 mL a triangular flask. 24 mL mixed acid (HNO₃:HClO₄=5:1) were added and covered for 12h. Then the mixed solution heated in sand bath at 50℃ till the digestive fluid slightly yellowish. After cooling, the volume was adjusted to 50 mL with ultrapure water. Pb content was measured with inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, PRESEE TAS-990, Beijing).

Subcellular Pb contents: some 0.5000 g of a fresh sample of A.alpina roots and leaves were weighed, and putted in an EP tube. The pre-cooled extract (weight: volume 1:50) (250mmol∙L^-1 sucrose, 50 mmol∙L^-1 Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH=7.5) and 1mmol/L dithioerythritol) was added and ground into a homogenate in an ice bath, then centrifuged for 15 min at 4℃, 3000 r/min. The residue part mainly contained the cell wall. The supernatant was transferred to a new centrifuge tube and centrifuged for 30 min at 4°C and 10 000 r·min^-1. The supernatant from the second centrifugation was the soluble component, and the residue was the organelle component of A.alpina.

Apoplast and symplast saps extract and Pb content: Some 0.25 g fresh roots of A. alpina was weighted and putted into EP tube. 50 mmol∙L^-1 MES-Tris buffer solution with pH 6.5 was added and reduced pressure 20 min with 0.5 kPa twice. The root samples were taken out and the water were suck dry. The spoplast saps were collected with centrifuged for 15 min at 4℃, 1500 r∙min^-1. 4℃. Then, the roots were frozen 3 days at -20℃. The symplast sap I was collected with centrifuged for 15 min at 4℃, 3000 r∙min^-1. 4℃. The roots were ground for 3 min with 1 mL ethyl alcohol added and then centrifuged for 15 min at 4℃, 3000 r∙min^-1. The residue part were ground for 3 min with 1 mL ethyl alcohol added and then centrifuged for 15 min at 4℃, 3000 r∙min^-1. The two supernatants were symplast sap II. The symplast saps were the mixture of symplast saps I and symplast saps II(Wu et al., 2015). The apoplast and symplast saps were constant volume to 50 mL with deionized water. Pb content was measured with inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, PRESEE TAS-990, Beijing).

Xylem and phloem saps extract and Pb content: The plant was moved to the shade. The stem was cut at the 4 cm above the base of root with blade soaked with acetone.The cut of the root side was dried with absorbent cotton dipping in with deionized water. The first drop was discarded with absorbent cotton, then sucked up the spilling saps with 200 µL Eppendorf pipette and transfer to 10 mL Eppendorf tube for 12h. The solution was centrifuged for 10min at 4℃, 3000 r∙min^-1. The supernatant was xylem sap stored 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube at -70℃(Wu et al., 2015).

The shoots part after cutting was dried with absorbent cotton and inserted into small plastic bottle with 15 mL 25 mmol∙L^-1 EDTA-Na₂. The bottle was put in incubator with closed shading at relative humidity 95% and 20℃ for 24 h to collect the phloem sap(Ge et al., 2008).

The xylem and phloem saps were constant volume to 50 mL with deionized water. Pb content was measured with inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, PRESEE TAS-990, Beijing).

Enzyme extract and activities of CAX, HMA and ABC: Preparation of enzyme extract: some 0.100 g of tissue were weigh, and cut into a mortar. 0.9 mL 0.01mol∙L^-1 of pH=7.2-7.4 PBS buffer was added, and grind into a homogenate in an ice bath. The mixture was centrifuged at 4℃, 5000r·min^-1 for 15 min with high-speed refrigerated centrifuge (HC-3018R high-speed refrigerated centrifuge, Anhui Zhongke Zhongjia Scientific Instrument Yuanxi Company). The supernatant was taken for determination.

The standard curve of CAX activities: some 150μL of CAX standard dilution (480 ng∙mL^-1) were pipetted into each tube to produce a 2-fold dilution series (including 240ng∙mL^-1, 120ng∙mL^-1, 60ng∙mL^-1, 30ng∙mL^-1, 15nng∙mL^-1). The standard solutions were measured the optical density (OD) at 450 nm with a microplate reader (DNM-9602, Beijing) within 15 minutes.

The standard curve of HMA and ABC activities: some 150μL of HMA or ABC standard dilution (800 U∙mL^-1) were pipetted into each tube to produce a 2-fold dilution series (including 400 U∙mL^-1, 200 U∙mL^-1, 100 U∙mL^-1, 50 U∙mL^-1, 25 U∙mL^-1). The standard solutions were measured the optical density (OD) at 450 nm with a microplate reader (DNM-9602, Beijing) within 15 minutes.

Assay procedure: Some 50μL of standard or sample supernatant were added to the microtiter plate and mixed well, then incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes. 50 μL of biotin antibody IgG was added to the mixture solution, and incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes. 50 μL of streptavidin-HRP was added, and incubated with gentle mixing at 37°C for 15 minutes. Chromogen Solution A 50 μL and Chromogen Solution B 50 μL were added and incubated at 37°C for 15 minutes, then 50 μL stop solution was added to stop the reaction. CAX, HMA and ABC activities were measured the optical density (OD) at 450 nm with a microplate reader (DNM-9602, Beijing) within 15 minutes and calculated with a standard curve of CAX, HMA and ABC. The unit of CAX activities was ng/mL and the unit of HMA and ABC activities was U∙mL^-1.

RNA-seq analysis: The total RNA of each sample was extracted and tested for its concentration, purity and integrity. After the sample was qualified, the mRNA was enriched with Oligo (dT) magnetic beads, and chromosome fragmentation buffer (fragmentation buffer) was added to the obtained mRNA. buffer) to make the fragments into short fragments, and then the fragmented mRNA was used as a template to synthesize the first strand of cDNA with random hexamers. Buffer, dNTPs, RNase H and DNA polymerase (polymerase) I was added to synthesize the second strand of cDNA, then purifed by QiaQuick PCR kit and EB buffer added to elution, end repair, base A added, sequencing adapter added, and then to recover the target size fragment by agarose gel electrophoresis, and PCR amplification was carried out in order to complete the entire library preparation work and perform library quality inspection on the prepared library.

Illumina HiSeqTM 2000 was used for sequencing after qualified. The comparison software Bowtie was used to compare the reads obtained by sequencing of each sample with the Unigene library. The expression levels were estimated based on the comparison information from RSEM, andthe RPKM (Reads Per Kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads) value was calculate to reflect the expression abundance of Unigenes. EBSeq was selected for differential expression analysis, and the FDR method was used to analyze the expression of Unigene. In the differential gene screening, FDR<0.05 and |log2(fc)|>1 were selected as the standard and defined as differential Unigene. fc is the ratio of the average RPKM of the comparative sample. TMHMM2.0 (http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/TMHMM/) was used to predict the topology of the transmembrane helix structure of the transporter, and obtain the corresponding gene base sequence and the amino acid sequence of the transporter.

$$\mathrm{RPKM}=\frac{{10}^{6}C}{NL/{10}^3}$$

(1)

$$\mathrm{fc}=\frac{RPKM(T)}{RPKM(\mathrm{C})}$$

(2)

In which, RPKM is the expression level of gene, then C is the number of sequencing reads compared to gene, N is the total number of sequenced fragments compared to the reference gene, and L is the number of bases of gene. RPKM (T) is the expression of related genes under Pb treatment, and RPKM (C) is the expression of related genes under CK.

4.4. Calculation and Statistical Analysis

Data analyzed with Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS 18.0 for statistical analysis. The data passed Duncan's multiple comparison test with one-way variance method (ANOVA), and when P<0.05, the difference was significant. Microsoft Origin 2021 was used for figure drawing.

5. Conclusion

Pb contents in roots and leaves on A. alpina increased with increase of Pb treatment concentrations, especially in vacuole. The contents of plant hormone in leaves and roots increased under Pb treatment. The related gene expression of AaGDCST increased resulting in auxin transport and Pb translocation from root to shoot based on RNA-seq analysis. Pb contents in leaves and symplast sap increased under foliage spraying IAA, which were related to activities of CAX and HMA in roots increased and activity of ABC in root decreased. In summary, the Pb translocation and accumulation should be related to IAA content and gene expression of AaGDCST as signal transduction for inducing increase in activities of transporter CAX and HMA in root of A. alpina. For hyperaccumulation Pb of A. alpina, AaGDCST has the potential to be utilized as a candidate gene.