Checking the environment for contaminants through soil sampling and other traditional methods can be a laborious process, but what are the alternatives? Scientists have now engineered a plant that turns red when exposed to specific toxic chemicals.
The idea behind the technology is that such plants could be grown in areas monitored for pollutants. Instead of repeatedly going in and taking soil samples, scientists can simply analyze aerial photos of the plots—if the plants are red, that means the target contaminant is present.
In this study, UC Riverside researchers genetically modified a receptor protein in Arabidopsis plants.
Typically, these proteins bind and react with another protein called abscisic acid (ABA), which plants produce in response to drought conditions. When the receptor proteins detect ABA, they cause the plant to close small pores (called stomata) in its leaves and stems. Doing so helps prevent the water already in the plant from evaporating.
Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, previously discovered that the receptor protein could be altered to bind to chemicals other than ABA, triggering different plant responses. In this study, the receptors were altered to bind to a banned, highly toxic pesticide called azinphosate. When the receptors do this, they cause the plant's normally green leaves and stems to turn red.
Importantly, the plant's metabolism is not adversely affected - for example, it can still conserve water in dry conditions. Additionally, the technology may be applicable to detecting other contaminants. "We're trying to be able to sense any chemical in the environment," said Professor Sean Cutler of the University of California, Riverside. "There are other pesticides in the water supply, as well as medications like birth control pills or Prozac, that people are concerned about being exposed to. Those are all available now."
A paper on the research was recently published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.