Metabolomic approach to assess arsenic stress in plants and algae

Abstract

Arsenic, a highly toxic metalloid, is widely distributed in soil and groundwater, especially in areas with mining or geothermal activity, raising environmental and health concerns. This contamination poses a threat to food security by affecting crop productivity and quality. The presence of arsenic in drinking water and crop irrigation compromises human and animal health, linking to chronic diseases and cancer, thus becoming a global threat to all living beings. Plant exposure to arsenic induces morphophysiological disorders, affecting their growth and development and resulting in decreased productivity. Physiologically, arsenic induces changes in various cellular structures, such as chloroplasts, mitochondria, peroxisomes, the endoplasmic reticulum, the cell wall and the plasma membrane. It also causes the overproduction of ROS, which damage the cell by breaking down lipids, proteins, and DNA. Biochemically, arsenic interferes with crucial metabolic processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, amino acid synthesis, cellular signaling and gene regulation. Plant tolerance to arsenic-induced oxidative stress mediated by ROS is crucial for their survival. Those with enhanced antioxidant defense systems demonstrate greater resistance by neutralizing excess ROS and protecting cells from oxidative damage. The diversity of plants, their tolerance or susceptibility to arsenic, and their ability to accumulate or respond to its toxicity influence the mechanisms of accumulation, absorption, or response to the metalloid. In the field of phytoremediation, hyperaccumulating plants such as rice (Oryza sativa) can extract arsenic from the soil, reducing its availability to other organisms. However, this approach presents challenges such as low biomass and waste management. Another strategy involves the use of tolerant plants through conventional genetic improvement or genetic engineering, such as tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), which maintain acceptable performance under arsenic stress conditions. The identification of regulators of the arsenic response is essential for the development of tolerant plants, contributing to viable phytoremediation strategies. This bibliographic work focuses on the growing interest in arsenic toxicity in crops, providing a detailed explanation of the mechanisms activated in plants when exposed to arsenic and the strategies they have developed to tolerate and mitigate the damage caused by this metalloid. The latest studies and data on the influence of arsenic on the metabolism, physiology, and ecology of terrestrial and aquatic plants are reviewed to offer an updated and comprehensive bibliographic summary on this topic