Application of Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases in Plant for Rapid Detection of 2,3,7,8 Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin in the Contaminated Sites

Abstract

The function of Cytochrome (CYP) P450 in plants to enhance detoxification of herbicide metabolism is well-known. However, the knowledge of gene quantification for detecting and detoxifying pollutants and other toxicants by an indigenous plant growing in a contaminated site is limited. The objective of this research is to evaluate the potential of detecting or degrading 2,3,7,8 Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) in soil using a native plant growing in a contaminated site via the gene expression of Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) method. The novelty of this research is that P450s in native plants possibly acts as a bioindicator on contaminated land by increasing its gene expression levels induced by the presence of TCDD. In seedling toxicity test and cytochrome enzyme activity test, a significant difference in the root length (range of value: 580.2–799.2 mm) and enzyme activity (range of value: 31.2–82.3 nmolmin⁻¹ g⁻¹ total protein) of such indigenous plant was found in 10 µg/L TCDD treatment when compared to other treatments. 13- and 20-fold levels of gene expression in CYP71C1 and CYP79A61 of the plant growing in a contaminated site were found after 10 µg/L TCDD treatment. The results revealed that such indigenous plant is sensitive to the detection of such persistent organic pollutant in the field site and involves gene expression change facilitated by a plant‒microbe symbiotic association. The current findings can provide an insight to use another option for pollution monitoring using non-standard plant models.