Distribution of phytochelatins, metal-binding compounds, in plant foods: A survey of commonly consumed fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes

Study on the relationship between selenium and cadmium in diseased human lungs

“…Research with cell and animal models shows that Cd burden as found in the US population causes oxidative stress, stimulates pro-inflammatory activity, and promotes fibrotic signaling [ 17 , 19 – 21 ]. In a recent study, we found that consumption of diets high in plant foods is associated with lower Cd burden in middle-age adults [ 84 ]. In principle, selection of plant foods grown in regions with high Se and low Cd (see Fig.…”

Discovery of phytochelatins in human urine: Evidence for function in selenium disposition and protection against cadmium

“…Unless otherwise stated, materials were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. A mixture of 11 stable isotopic chemicals used as an internal standard for LC-MS analysis included [3,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] C 2 ]-cystine and [trimethyl- 13 C 3 ]caffeine purchased from Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc. PyC 2 -Gly [(γEC) 2 G] standard was purchased from CPC Scientific. All metal standards were purchased from either RICCA Chemical Company or Inorganic Ventures.…”

“…All samples were randomized, and digestions were performed alongside two reference urine samples (NIST SRM 2668 levels 1 and 2). Urine samples were assessed for concentration of 9 Be, 24 Mg, 27 Al, 51 V, 52 Cr, 55 Mn, 58 Ni, 59 Co, 63 Cu, 64 Zn, 78 Se, 98 Mo, 114 Cd, 120 Sn, 121 Sb, 130 Te, 133 Cs, 134 Ba, 184 W, 195 Pt, 205 Tl, and 238 U using a linear standard curve from 0.25 to 64 ppb generated alongside samples. In the same way, cell lysates were assessed for concentration of 78 Se and 114 Cd.…”

“…The human urinary concentrations observed are expected due to estimated intakes of several μmol total PyC each day in a typical American diet. 9 The possibility that endogenous synthesis or the microbiome contribute to absorbed PyCs cannot be ruled out; however, absorption of PyCs from the diet is the simplest explanation of the information at hand. 11 Previous investigations of PyC interactions with metal homeostasis in mammalian systems have focused on Cd uptake.…”

“…PyCs are ubiquitous in higher plants and found in some fungi and nematodes 1,6–8 . In higher plants, they are present in all plant tissues 9 . PyCs are synthesized by phytochelatin synthases, which polymerize γ‐Glu‐Cys (γ‐EC) subunits derived from glutathione (GSH; γ‐Glu‐Cys‐Gly).…”