Phytochelatins (PCs) are synthesized by PC synthases from glutathione with the general structure of (γ-Glu-Cys)n-Gly (n=2-11). They are necessary for heavy metal tolerance in fungi and higher plants. Recent studies have shown that both SpHMT1 and SpABC2 play an important role in PC-mediating heavy metal sequestration in the vacuole of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, while AtABCC1 and AtABCC2 are the major transporters for removing PC-heavy metal complexes from cytosol into the vacuole of Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, several studies have suggested tha...
