Figure 3.

Schematic representation of transgenic plants expressing genes involved in Hg detoxification reported throughout the literature. The plant species are enlisted under each gene they are transgenic for, and the maximum concentrations or quantities detected in tissues or volatilized are adjacent. The genes were clustered by their phytoremediation outcome: phytovolatilization, which enables the reduction of inorganic Hg²⁺ to volatile Hg⁰; organic Hg detoxification, initiated by dealkylation of organic Hg compounds by MerB, resulting Hg²⁺, and followed by reduction to Hg⁰, if in conjunction with MerA; phytostabilization, which speeds up mercury uptake and its immobilization within root tissues; phytoextraction, which enhances tolerance by augmented Hg-buffering systems; ER—endoplasmic reticulum, CW—cell wall, PM—plasma membrane, dw—dry weight, fw—fresh weight, PMA—phenylmercury acetate. Created with BioRender.com, accessed on 28 February 2021.