Unraveling phytoremediation mechanisms of the common reed (Phragmites australis) suspension cells towards ciprofloxacin: Xenobiotic transformation and metabolic reprogramming.

ABSTRACT

Phytoremediation is an effective solution to treat pollution with antibiotic compounds in aquatic environments; however, the underlying mechanisms for plants to cope with antibiotic pollutants are obscure. Here we used cell suspension culture to investigate the distribution and transformation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in common reed (Phragmites australis) plants, as well as the accompanying phenotypic and metabolic responses of plants. By means of radioactive isotope labelling, we found that in total 68 % of CIP was transformed via intracellular Phase I transformation (reduction and methylation), Phase Ⅱ conjugation (glycosylation), and Phase Ⅲ compartmentalization (cell-bound residue formation mainly in cell walls, 23 %). The reduction and glycosylation products were secreted by the cells. To mitigate stress induced by CIP and its transformation products, the cells activated the defense system by up-regulating both intra- and extra-cellular antioxidant metabolites (e.g., catechin, l-cystine, and dehydroascorbic acid), anti-C/N metabolism disorder metabolites (e.g., succinic acid), secreting signaling (e.g., nicotinic acid), and anti-stress (e.g., allantoin) metabolites. Notably, the metabolic reprogramming could be involved in the CIP transformation process (e.g., glycosylation). Our findings reveal the strategy of wetland plants to cope with the stress from CIP by transforming the xenobiotic compound and reprogramming metabolism, and provide novel insights into the fate of antibiotics and plant defense mechanisms during phytoremediation.