Nanoimpact in Plants: Lessons from the Transcriptome

Transcriptomics studies are available to evaluate the potential toxicity of nanomaterials in plants, and many highlight their effect on stress-responsive genes. However, a comparative analysis of overall expression changes suggests a low impact on the transcriptome. Environmental challenges like pathogens, saline, or drought stress induce stronger transcriptional responses than nanoparticles. Clearly, plants did not have the chance to evolve specific gene regulation in response to novel nanomaterials; but they use common regulatory circuits with other stress responses. A shared effect with abiotic stress is the inhibition of genes for root development and pathogen response. Other works are reviewed here, which also converge on these results.

Automated summary

Transcriptomics studies show that nanomaterials have potential toxicity in plants, affecting stress-responsive genes, but overall impact on the transcriptome is minimal. Environmental challenges like pathogens, salinity, or drought induce stronger transcriptional responses compared to nanoparticles. Plants lack specific gene regulation for novel nanomaterials, using common regulatory circuits with other stress responses such as inhibition of genes for root development and pathogen response. Other reviewed works also support these findings.