Monitoring CO as a plant signaling molecule under heavy metal stress using carbon nanodots†

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) is widely recognized as a significant environmental pollutant and is associated with numerous instances of accidental poisoning in humans. However, it also serves a pivotal role as a signaling molecule in plants, exhibiting functions analogous to those of other gaseous signaling molecules, including nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). In plant physiology, CO is synthesized as an integral component of the defense mechanism against oxidative damage, particularly under abiotic stress conditions such as drought, salinity, and exposure to heavy metals. Current research methodologies have demonstrated a lack of effective tools for monitoring CO dynamics in plants during stress conditions, particularly in relation to heavy metal accumulation across various developmental stages. Therefore, development of a sensor capable of detecting CO in living plant tissues is essential, as it would enable a deeper understanding of its biological functions, underlying mechanisms, and metabolic pathways. In response to this gap, the present study introduces a novel technique for monitoring CO production and activity in plants using nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs). These nanodots exhibited exceptional biocompatibility, low toxicity, and environmentally sustainable characteristics, rendering them an optimal tool for CO detection via fluorescence quenching mechanism, with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.102 μM. This innovative nanomarker facilitated the detection of trace quantities of CO within plant cells, providing new insights into plant stress responses to heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Ru, Cr, Cd, and Hg, as well as the processes involved in seed germination. Additionally, confocal microscopy validated the interaction between CO and N-CQDs, yielding visual evidence of CO binding within plant cells, further enhancing the understanding of CO's role in plant biology.