PCD and autophagy in the unicellular green alga Micrasterias denticulata.
Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a central role in normal plant development and is also induced by various biotic and abiotic stress factors. In the unicellular freshwater green alga Micrasterias denticulata morphological and biochemical hallmarks such as the appearance of autophagosomes, increased production of ROS and degradation of genomic DNA into small fragments ("DNA laddering") indicate PCD. Our data not only demonstrate that Micrasterias is capable of performing PCD under salt stress, but also that it is triggered by the ionic and not osmotic component of salinity. Additionally, results from the present and previous studies suggest that different inducers may lead to different cell death pathways in one and the same organism.
Plant Physiology Division, Cell Biology Department, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Matthias Josef
MJ
Affenzeller
Anza
A
Darehshouri
Ancuela
A
Andosch
Cornelius
C
Lütz
Ursula
U
Lütz-Meindl
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D020169:Caspases