Skip to main content
Log in

Possible involvement of the mitochondrial alternative pathway in ethylene-induced apoptosis in tomato protoplasts

  • Published:
Plant Growth Regulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, a monoclonal antibody to the terminal oxidase of the alternative pathway from Sauromatum guttatum was used to detect the expression of alternative oxidase (AOX) protein in tomato mitochondria. The results show that there was an obvious correlation between the ethylene-induced apoptosis and the levels of AOX protein in tomato cells undergoing ethylene-induced apoptosis. In addition, when tomato protoplasts were preincubated with 2 mM salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM), an inhibitor of the alternative pathway, before their exposure to ethylene, the TUNEL positive reaction and DNA fragmentation were obviously accelerated. We suggest that AOX may play an important role in protecting tomato protoplasts against ethylene-induced apoptosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anneke M., Wagner A.M. and Krab K.1995. The alternative respiration pathway in plants:role and regulation. Physiol.Plant.95:318-325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braidot E., Petrussa E., Vianello A. and Macri F.1999. Hydrogen peroxide generation by higher plant mitochondria oxidizing complex I or complex II substrates. FEBS Lett.451:347-350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Day D.A., Neuburger M. and Douce R.1985. Biochemical characterization of chlorophyll-free mitochondria from pea leaves. Aust. J.Plant Physiol.12:219-228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grbic V. and Bleecker A.B.1995. Ethylene regulates the timing of leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. Plant J.8:595-602.

    Google Scholar 

  • He C.J., Morgan P.W. and Drew M.C.1996. Transduction of an ethylene signal is required for cell death and lysis in the root cortex of maize during aerenchyma formation induced by hypoxia. Plant Physiol.112:463-472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones A.2000. Does the plant mitochondrion integrate cellular stress and regulate programmed cell death?Trends Plant Sci.5:225-230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln J.E., Cordes S., Read E. and Fischer R.L.1987. Regulation of gene expression by ethylene during Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) fruit development. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA92:7931-7935.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell D.P., Wang Y. and McIntosh L.1999. The alternative oxidase lowers mitochondrial reactive oxygen production in plant cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA96:8271-8276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell D.P., Nickels R. and McIntosh L.2002. Evidence of mitochondrial involvement in the transduction of signals required for the induction of genes associated with pathogen attack and senescence. Plant J.29:269-279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meeuse B.J.D.1975. Thermogenic respiration in aroids. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol.26:117-126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mergemann H. and Sauter M.2000. Ethylene signal transduction and programmed cell death during aerenchyma formation in maize roots. Plant Physiol.124:609-614.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minagawa N., Koga S., Nakano M., Sakajo S. and Yoshimoto A.1992. Possible involvement of superoxide anion in the induction of cyanide-resistant respiration in Hansenula anomala. FEBS Lett.302:217-219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore A.L. and Siedow J.N.1991. The regulation and nature of the cyanide-resistant alternative oxidase of plant mitochondria. Biochim. Biophys. Acta1059:121-140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan P.W., Drew M.C., Jordan W.R., He C.J., Huang Y.F., Finlayson S.A., Finkelstein D.B. and Wing R.A.1997. Ethylene signal transduction and programmed cell death during aerenchyma formation in maize roots. Plant Physiol.114:31003 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Orz D. and Granell A.1997. DNA fragmentation is regulated by ethylene during carpel senescence in Pisum sativum. Plant J.11:137-144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennell R.I. and Lamb C.1997. Programmed cell death in plants. Plant Cell9:1157-1168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polla B.S., Kantengea S., Francois D., Salvioli S., Franceschi C., Marsac C. and Cossarizza A.1996. Mitochondria are selective targets for the protective effects of heart shock against oxidative injury. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA93:6458-6463.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryerson D.E. and Heath M.C.1996. Cleavage of nuclear DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments during cell death induced by fungal infection or by abiotic treatments. Plant Cell8:393-402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siedow J.N. and Umbach A.L.1995. Plant mitochondrial electron transfer and molecular biology. Plant Cell7:821-831.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y.L., Zhao Y., Hong X. and Zhai Z.H.1999. Cytochrome c release and caspase activation during menadion-induced apoptosis in plants. FEBS Lett.462:317-321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaux D.L. and Strasser A.1996. The molecular biology of apoptosis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA93:2239-2244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werts I.E. and Hanley M.R.1996. Diverse molecular provocation of programmed cell death. Trends Biochem. Sci.21:359-364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie Z.X. and Chen Z.X.1999. Salicylic acid induces rapid inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation in tobacco cells. Plant Physiol.120:217-225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie Z.X. and Chen Z.X.2000. Harpin-induced hypersensitive cell death is associated with altered mitochondrial functions in tobacco cells. Mol. Plant Microbe13:183-190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yehudit A., Mordechai C. and Alex L.2000. Anoxiz pretreatment protects soybean cells against H2O2-induced cell death:possible involvement of preoxidases and of alternative oxidase. FEBS Lett.477:175-180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J., Zhu H.Z. and Dai Y.R.1999. Effect of ethrel on apoptosis in carrot protoplasts. Plant Growth Regul.27:119-123.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lei, XY., Zhu, RY., Zhang, GY. et al. Possible involvement of the mitochondrial alternative pathway in ethylene-induced apoptosis in tomato protoplasts. Plant Growth Regulation 41, 111–116 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027355502538

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027355502538

Navigation