Heavy metal transporters and their applications in phytoremediation

Phytoremediation has nowadays become one of the cost-effective and environmental friendly solutions to the heavy metal pollution problems of soil system. A range of gene families and proteins that are likely to be involved in heavy metal transport have been identified by using the genetic and molecular technologies. These include ZIP genes family, ABC transporters, organomercurial lyses gene merB, mercury reductase gene merA and metathionin MT. With an emphasis on the sub-cellular level, this paper summarizes progresses in the researches on heavy metal tansporters related to molecular biology and its application on phytoremediation.