Evidence for programmed cell death and activation of specific caspase-like enzymes in the tomato fruit heat stress response
2009
E01603
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Title
Evidence for programmed cell death and activation of specific caspase-like enzymes in the tomato fruit heat stress response
Publication Date
2009
Call Number
E01603
Summary
The tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit is the best available model to study the stress response of fleshy fruit. Programmed cell death (PCD) plays an important role in stress responses in mammals and plants. In this study, we provide evidence that PCD is triggered in the tomato fruit heat stress response by detection of the sequential diagnostic PCD events, including release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-like proteases and the presence of TUNEL-positive nuclei. Investigating the time course of these events for 12 h after heat treatment indicated that cytochrome c release and caspase-like protease activation occurred rapidly and were consistent with the onset of DNA fragmentation. In addition, LEHDase and DEVDase enzymes were specifically activated in tomato fruit pericarp during the heat treatment and recovery time. There was no significant activation of YVADase or IETDase proteases. Preincubation of pericarp discs with the broad-spectrum, cell-permeable caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, suppressed heat-induced cell death measured by trypan blue, accompanied by a decrease in LEHDase and DEVDase activities
Journal Citation
v.229(6):1269-1279, PLANTA
Contact Information
harvest@worldveg.org
Record Appears in
Research > Published Articles