title: Acetic acid-induced programmed cell death and release of volatile organic compounds in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
abstract: Acetic acid widely spreads in atmosphere, aquatic ecosystems containing residues and anoxic soil. It can inhibit aquatic plant germination and growth, and even cause programmed cell death (PCD) of yeast. In the present study, biochemical and physiological responses of the model unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were examined after acetic acid stress. H(2)O(2) burst was found in C. reinhardtii after acetic acid stress at pH 5.0 for 10 min. The photosynthetic pigments were degraded, gross photosynthesis and respiration were disappeared gradually, and DNA fragmentation was also detected. Those results indicated that C. reinhardtii cells underwent a PCD but not a necrotic, accidental cell death event. It was noticed that C. reinhardtii cells in PCD released abundant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) upon acetic acid stress. Therefore, we analyzed the VOCs and tested their effects on other normal cells. The treatment of C. reinhardtii cultures with VOCs reduced the cell density and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Therefore, a function of VOCs as infochemicals involved in cell-to-cell communication at the conditions of applied stress is suggested.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Zhaojiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Yerong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yanling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis; D019069:Cell Respiration; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D010788:Photosynthesis; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013997:Time Factors; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000975:Antioxidants; D003470:Culture Media; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D015032:Zinc