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PlantTrait Regulation Enabled by Nanoplastic NucleicAcid Carriers
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Researchers used positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics to deliver small interfering RNA into tobacco leaf cells, demonstrating that nanoplastics can penetrate cell walls and function as nucleic acid carriers. The siRNA-nanoplastic complexes successfully silenced target genes, suggesting both a potential biotechnology tool and a mechanism by which nanoplastics could disrupt plant gene expression.
Nanoplastic pollutants have raised concerns about their potential impacts on plant physiology. In this study, RNA interference technology (RNAi) was leveraged to verify the intracellular regulation of nanoplastic nucleic acid carriers (NNAC) on plant traits. The results revealed that positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS, 20 nm) can efficiently adsorb small interfering RNA (siRNA) at a mass ratio of 1:5 (siRNA-PS) through electrostatic interactions, forming stable siRNA-PS complexes resistant to enzymatic degradation. The red fluorescence was observed in tobacco leaf cells, providing evidence that Cy3-siRNA-PS has successfully traversed the cell wall barrier and been internalized. Meanwhile, the targeted siRNA-PS effectively induces pronounced fluorescence quenching of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in tobacco leaves, decreasing by 97.6% after 24 h. Similarly, the vibrant red flowers of glory were tuned to a faded state through the manipulation of color-controlled genes, particularly the mRNA expression of chalcone isomerase (CHI) reduced by 69.4%. Nevertheless, the expression of the GFP gene in tobacco leaves has largely reverted to the baseline levels observed in the control group after 4 days, highlighting the transient and reversible nature of this nongenetic regulation. Overall, this study uncovers the role of nanoplastic carriers, enhancing our understanding of nanoplastic biosafety and providing a foundation for the phytotoxicity of new nanopollutants.
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Plant Trait Regulation Enabled by Nanoplastic Nucleic Acid Carriers
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Researchers discovered that positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics can bind to small RNA molecules and carry them into plant cells, effectively acting as gene delivery vehicles. They demonstrated that these nanoplastic-RNA complexes could silence specific genes in plants, altering visible traits like leaf color. The study reveals an unexpected biological mechanism by which nanoplastics could influence plant gene expression in the environment.
Differentially charged nanoplastics demonstrate distinct accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana
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Researchers exposed Arabidopsis thaliana plants to positively and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics and found that charge determined accumulation patterns, with positively charged particles penetrating deeper into root and leaf tissues than negatively charged ones.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics Affect the Expression of Genes Involved in Cellular Processes in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.)
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Scientists exposed a common lab plant to tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) and found they disrupted genes controlling cell growth, stress responses, and the plant's ability to defend itself and remove toxins. While this study was done in plants, not humans, it adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics—now found in our air, water, and food—can interfere with basic biological processes at the cellular level, raising questions about their potential effects on the crops we eat and, ultimately, our own health.
Polymer nanoparticles pass the plant interface
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Researchers created well-defined fluorescent polymer nanoparticles and tracked their uptake into the roots and cells of Arabidopsis plants using microscopy. They found that smaller nanoparticles were taken up more efficiently than larger ones, with particles entering through the root system. The study provides direct evidence that nanoplastics can cross plant cell barriers, which has implications for understanding how plastic pollution may enter the food chain through crops.
Physiobiochemical and transcriptional responses of tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) to different doses of polystyrene nanoplastics
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Researchers examined how different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics affect tobacco plant growth at both the physiological and molecular levels. They found that higher doses caused oxidative stress, reduced photosynthesis, and triggered significant changes in gene expression related to stress responses. The study reveals that nanoplastic toxicity in plants is dose-dependent and involves complex molecular mechanisms beyond simple physical damage.
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