title: Cytological and biochemical evidence for an early cell dismantling event in surface cultures of Streptomyces antibioticus.
abstract: A process of programmed cell death taking place late in the aerial mycelium was previously reported in surface cultures of Streptomyces antibioticus ATCC11891. In this study, we present evidence for the occurrence of a similar process taking place early in the vegetative mycelium of surface cultures of the same strain. Several indicators, such as cell wall and membrane disruption, DNA degradation and release of the cytoplasmic content into the exocellular medium, support the existence of active, highly regulated cell suicide involving specific enzymes. Calcium-dependent proteolytic activation of a precursor of nucleases and the nucleolytic formation of a ladder of chromosomal bands are conspicuous events associated with the initiation of the death process.
authors.affiliation: Area de Microbiología, Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manteca
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D017209:Apoptosis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000032:analysis; D003854:Deoxyribonucleotides / Q000032:analysis; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006593:Hexokinase / Q000032:analysis; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D025282:Mycelium / Q000254:growth & development*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013303:Streptomyces antibioticus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003854:Deoxyribonucleotides; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006593:Hexokinase; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases