Investigation of Eu3+ uptake and spatial distribution in tobacco BY-2 cells

Lanthanides have become essential for modern life due to their unique chemical, optical and magnetic properties.[1] On the contrary, their versatility causes an accumulation in soils and plants, thus posing a risk for the health of animals and humans. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the transfer and migration behavior of lanthanides into plants is crucial for a reasonable risk assessment.
In this work, suspension cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum Bright-Yellow 2 (BY-2)[2] have been utilized to investigate the uptake of Eu(III) on a molecular level. The bioassociation of the metal was studied quantitatively by ICP MS upon the exposure to the lanthanide, and qualitatively by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) and chemical microscopy with particular focus on the spatial distribution and intracellular speciation of Eu(III).

[1] J.-C. Bünzli, in Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Wiley Blackwell, 2013, pp. 1-43.
[2] T. Nagata, Y. Nemoto, S. Hasezawa, International review of cytology 1992, 132, 1-30.