Histological and proteome analyses of Microbacterium foliorum-mediated decrease in arsenic toxicity in Melastoma malabathricum.

Arsenic (As) is an increasing threat across the globe, widely known as a non-threshold carcinogen, and it is reaching harmful values in several areas of the world. In this study, the effect of plant growth promoting bacteria (Microbacterium foliorum) on inorganic arsenic (Arsenate) phytoremediation by Melastoma malabathricum plants was investigated through histological analysis and proteome profiling of the M. malabathricum plants. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy were used to conduct the proteome and histological analysis. When arsenic-treated cells were compared to untreated cells, substantial changes were found (1) severely altered the morphology of the cells, intensely disturbed; (2) the cell wall was thicker; (3) drastically changed the cytoplasm, the cells were polygonal in shape, different in size (scattered), and relatively dense. Compared to the control group, the ultra-structure of the root cells of the control group revealed intact cytoplasm, vacuole, and cell wall under exposure to As + bacteria that had a minor effect on the cell form. To further understand As + bacteria interaction, proteome profiling of the root cell was analyzed. The As-induced oxidative stress enrichment was confirmed by the up-regulation of tubulin, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and major allergen during As + bacteria exposure It was observed that the profusion of proteins involved in defence, protein biogenesis, signaling, photosynthesis, nucleoside and energy metabolism was greater in As + bacteria as compared to the rooting out of As only. Overall, it can be obviously seen that the current study demonstrates the effectiveness of phytoremediation by M. foliorum on proteins involved and responsive pathways in dealing with As toxicity in M. malabathricum plant. © King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2021.