title: [Induction of programmed cell death by menadione in suspension culture of carrot cells].
abstract: Menadione (VK3), a quinone that undergoes redox cycles leading to the formation of superoxide radicals, was found to induce cell death in suspension culture of carrot cells. The effect of menadione was in a dose-dependent manner. 100-800 mumol/L menadione caused 10-33 percent cell death. When concentration of menadione reached 1 mmol/L, 100 percent of cell death was observed. DNA cleavage, a hallmark of apoptosis was further studied. DNA ladders were observed in cells treated with 600 and 800 mumol/L menadione but not with lower concentration treatments where only very low percentage of cell death was found. There was no DNA ladders in the cells treated with 1 mmol/L menadion indicating that necrosis may occur. In situ detection of nuclear DNA fragmentation by TUNEL reaction revealed fragmented nuclear DNA in cells treated with 100-800 mumol/L menadion but not in cells treated with 1 mmol/L menadione.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000166:cytology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D011523:Protoplasts / Q000187:drug effects; D024483:Vitamin K 3 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D024483:Vitamin K 3