title: Farnesol induces apoptosis and oxidative stress in the fungal pathogen Penicillium expansum.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of farnesol (FOH) on the growth of P. expansum. The viability of P. expansum cells was determined by counting the colony forming units (CFU) after each FOH treatment. Morphological changes of FOH-treated fungal cells were analyzed by staining with Hoechst 33258, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase fluorescein-12-dUTP nick end labeling), Annexin-V FITC and the oxidant-sensitive probe H2DCFDA (dichlorodihydro-fluorescein diacetate). FOH strongly inhibited the growth of hyphae. The hyphal cells showed the hallmarks of apoptosis including chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, caspases activation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation but without nucleosomal ladder production. The abnormal cellular ultrastructure observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) indicated that disintegration of cellular ultrastructure (especially for mitochondria) was linked to FOH-induced cell death. Taken together we demonstrated that FOH inhibits the growth of P. expansum and promotes apoptosis via activation of metacaspases, production of ROS and disintegration of cellular ultrastructure.
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Citrus Breeding, Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
authors.forename: Pu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Junhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Huimin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Baoquan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Boxun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Chao-an
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Yunjiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000737:chemistry; D025301:Hyphae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C110400:2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005204:Farnesol; D020169:Caspases