Relationships of nicotianamine and other amino acids with nickel, zinc and iron in Thlaspi hyperaccumulators

• Experimental evidence suggests that nicotianamine (NA) is involved in the complexation of metal ions in some metal-hyperaccumulating plants. • Closely-related nickel (Ni)- and zinc (Zn)-hyperaccumulating species were studied to determine whether a correlation exists between the Ni and Zn concentrations and NA in foliar tissues. • A liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) procedure was developed to quantify the NA and amino acid...