title: Nanosecond electric pulses trigger actin responses in plant cells.
abstract: We have analyzed the cellular effects of nanosecond pulsed electrical fields on plant cells using fluorescently tagged marker lines in the tobacco cell line BY-2 and confocal laser scanning microscopy. We observe a disintegration of the cytoskeleton in the cell cortex, followed by contraction of actin filaments towards the nucleus, and disintegration of the nuclear envelope. These responses are accompanied by irreversible permeabilization of the plasma membrane manifest as uptake of Trypan Blue. By pretreatment with the actin-stabilizing drug phalloidin, the detachment of transvacuolar actin from the cell periphery can be suppressed, and this treatment can also suppress the irreversible perforation of the plasma membrane. We discuss these findings in terms of a model, where nanosecond pulsed electric fields trigger actin responses that are key events in the plant-specific form of programmed cell death.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pulsed Power and Microwave Technology (IHM), Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berghöfer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eing
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flickinger
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hohenberger
authors.forename: Lars H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nick
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004560:Electricity; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010590:Phalloidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D010590:Phalloidine