植物在逆境胁迫中的细胞程序性死亡

细胞程序性死亡(programmed cell death,PCD)是一种由基因控制的、主动的细胞死亡过程,它对植物正常生长发育起重要作用.在逆境胁迫因子如病原体、高盐、低氧、低温、热激和金属离子等作用下,植物为了抵御不良环境的侵害,以活性氧、Ca2+、乙烯和NO等为信号因子,诱导植物体的特定部位发生PCD,形成细胞主动死亡,从而避免逆境对其他组织进一步伤害,并使植物获得对不良环境的适应性.对植物PCD的一般特征、环境胁迫因子及诱导PCD信号分子等进行了综述,为在逆境条件下深入研究植物细胞程序性死亡提供参考.     

液泡信号通路依赖的细胞程序性死亡研究进展

液泡是植物细胞专一性器官之一,具有多种功能,参与细胞内环境调节和细胞解毒等过程。研究表明,液泡在植物细胞程序性死亡（programmed cell death,PCD）中具有重要作用。在液泡介导的PCD过程中,液泡加工酶（vacuolar processing enzyme,VPE）的调控和激活是PCD的关键环节。着眼于液泡信号通路依赖的PCD,对相关细胞事件和分子调控机制进行了讨论,并对未来的研究方向作了展望,以期能推进PCD机制解明。     

信号分子介导藻类细胞程序性死亡的研究进展

藻类是水生态系统中的重要初级生产者, 在物质转换和能量迁移过程中发挥重要作用。细胞程序性死亡(PCD)作为一种细胞自我调控的死亡模式, 受到多种信号分子的控制。研究发现藻类细胞在遭受环境胁迫的情况下, 在形态和生理上均表现出类PCD的特征, 同时伴随着活性氧/一氧化氮/钙离子(ROS/NO/Ca2+)水平的变化。研究认为, ROS/NO/Ca2+作为信号分子介导藻细胞内的caspase-like酶活性变化, 从而触发藻细胞的类程序性死亡。然而, 对信号分子是如何在环境胁迫下的藻类细胞中引发类PCD仍知之甚少。文章综述了信号分子ROS/NO/Ca2+介导藻类类PCD的研究进展以及信号分子间的级联关系, 并对今后类PCD在该领域待开展的研究进行了展望。     

环境因子诱导的植物细胞程序性死亡

细胞发生程序性死亡（Programmed cell death,PCD）是多细胞生物用以消除多余的或有害的细胞的一种重要方式。对于植物个体来说,细胞发生程序性死亡（PCD）是抵抗逆境的一种十分有效的途径。因此,揭示环境因子诱导的植物PCD现象的分子本质就具有十分重要的现实意义。近十年来,有关环境因子诱导的植物PCD研究报道逐年增加。本文重点综述了环境因子与植物PCD相关的研究进展,并对植物PCD的主要生物学意义和研究展望进行了讨论。     

环境因子诱导的植物细胞程序性死亡

细胞发生程序性死亡(Programmed cell death,PCD)是多细胞生物用以消除多余的或有害的细胞的一种重要方式。对于植物个体来说,细胞发生程序性死亡(PCD)是抵抗逆境的一种十分有效的途径。因此,揭示环境因子诱导的植物PCD现象的分子本质就具有十分重要的现实意义。近十年来,有关环境因子诱导的植物PCD研究报道逐年增加。本文重点综述了环境因子与植物PCD相关的研究进展,并对植物PCD的主要生物学意义和研究展望进行了讨论。     

浮游植物中一氧化氮的生理作用研究进展

一氧化氮（NO）作为一种具有生物活性的气体自由基分子,它的功能代表了生物学系统中信号传递的新途径。大量证据表明,NO在浮游植物细胞中的功能和在高等动植物中类似,具有调节生长和参与抗逆性的作用,NO和ROS可能作为信号分子参与介导浮游植物程序性死亡（PCD）过程。文章较全面地介绍了NO在浮游植物中的产生途径、测定方法、生理功能和PCD的关系及作为信号分子的作用,并对该领域今后的研究进行了展望。     

植物细胞程序性死亡——一个新兴的研究领域

近年来,越来越多的证据表明,植物细胞在生理、病理或逆境条件下可发生程序性死亡(Programmed Cell Death．PCD)。本文详细描述了植物PCD的形态和生化特征、生理功能及其研究意义,并把这些方面与动物PCD做了比较。另外,虽然植物PCD的研究尚处于起步阶段,本文还是对其可能的信号传导机制、遗传调控以及PCD的起源与进化作了探讨,并提出了植物PCD的研究战略。具体说来有以下几个方面：1形态和生化特征：目前,植物PCD的研究主要还集中于形态和生化方面的描述。各种条件下的植物PCD在形态和生化特征上都或多或少地与动物细胞凋亡存在差异,并不符合动物细胞凋亡定义的全部内容。并且不同植物PCD类型相互之间也存在着较大的不同。尽管如此,动植物PCD在形态和生化方面还是存在许多相似之处。无炎症反应、DNA的特异片段化以及核酸内切酶和蛋白酶活性的升高在植物中也依然是区别PCD与细胞坏死(necrosis)的形态和生化依据。2．分子水平上,植物PCD也涉及到许多信号分子和特定基因参与调控的信号传导途径。但到目前为止,已分离的与植物PCD直接相关的基因只有ACD2、Dad1等少数几个．尽管己证明一些信号分子如活性氧种类(reactive oxygen species,ROSs)、Ca2 、植物激素等参与了植物PCD的信号传导,而对其信号传导途径及机制还一无所知。不过,这些信号分子及几个相关基因的分离将有助于阐明植物PCD的信号传导机制。并且,从已有的证据看来,参与PCD的基因以及一些信号分子在动植物中具有相当的保守性,因此推测动植物PCD可能存在共同的基因调控规律及信号传导机制。近来,在HR以及发育过程中的PCD中检测到有类似caspase的蛋白酶的参与。这些证据表明,PCD在分子水平上具有一定的保守性,为PCD的起源与进化提供了有力的证据。3．植物PCD的生理功能也与动物的相似。在植物的生殖、发育,生长、衰老以及植物抗病、抗逆等整个生命过程中,PCD担负着与细胞增殖同等重要的生理功能。因此,无论从理论还是从实践上,植物PCD都具有重要的研究意义。4．纵观各方面的证据可以推测,PCD起源于原核生物,并随着生物的进化而进化。在生物进化树的分支上,已发现不同类型的PCD形式。结论：许多内因或外因都能打破植物的体内平衡,最终导致细胞分化、增殖、静止或死亡。纵观各种生,病理及逆境胁迫下的植物PCD可以看出,虽然它们之间有着较大的不同,并且都与动物细胞凋亡存在较大的差异、那些共同的形态和生化特征应该便可以做为PCD的定义内容。     

植物细胞程序性死亡的研究进展

细胞程序性死亡（PCD）是生物进化过程中受自身基因控制并受多种因子调控的一种细胞主动的死亡过程。PCD在植物的正常生长发育、对环境胁迫的反应和病原体入侵引发的过敏反应中起重要的作用。简要综述了植物PCD的特征、与此相关的蛋白和活性氧在PCD过程中的作用。     

植物中的细胞程序性死亡

细胞程序性死亡(PCD)对于维持植物的正常生长发育非常重要,目前已成为植物学研究的一个热点。本文综合评述了近年来植物PCD研究的某些进展,包括植物PCD的特征,植物的营养生长、生殖生长以及与环境互作过程中存在的各种PCD及其证据,植物PCD发生的分子机制及其调控等等。对植物PCD研究中有待进一步解决的问题和可能意义提出了自己的见解。     

我国科学家在程序性细胞死亡机制研究领域取得重大突破

程序性细胞死亡在调控植物发育和胁迫响应中具有重要作用, 而活性氧是导致程序性细胞死亡的关键因子。日前, 中科院遗传与发育所李家洋研究组对活性氧调控程序性细胞死亡的分子机制进行了深度解析, 首次阐明了苹果酸作为信号分子, 经由叶绿体-线粒体穿梭途径而引发活性氧产生, 继而导致细胞死亡。该研究成果是程序性细胞死亡调控机制领域的重大突破。     

植物生长发育中程序性细胞死亡

本文简要介绍了植物细胞凋亡的一些特点以及植物在营养生长和生殖生长过程中发生的细胞凋亡现象。指出细胞凋亡是植物生长发育过程中正常的生理现象。     

植物细胞程序死亡的机理及其与发育的关系

细胞程序死亡（PCD）是在植物体发育过程中普遍存在的,在发育的特定阶段发生的自然的细胞死亡过程,这一死亡过程是由某些特定基因编码的“死亡程序”控制的。PCD是细胞分化的最后阶段。细胞分化的临界期就处于死亡程序执行中的某个阶段。PCD包含启动期、效应期和清除期三个阶段,其间caspase家族起着重要作用。PCD在细胞和组织的平衡、特化,以及组织分化、器官建成和对病原体的反应等植物发育过程中起着重要作用。PCD中的形态学变化和生物化学变化都有着严格的时序性。植物的PCD和动物的PCD有许多共性,包括细胞形态和DNA降解等变化。也有一些不同,植物PCD的产物既可被其它细胞吸收利用;也可用于构建自身的次生细胞壁。     

植物细胞程序死亡的机理及其与发育的关系

细胞程序死亡（ＰＣＤ）是在植物体发育过程中普遍存在的,在发育的特定阶段发生的自然的细胞死亡过程,这一死亡过程是由某些特定基因编码的“死亡程序”控制的。ＰＣＤ的细胞分化的最后阶段。细胞分化的临界期就牌死亡程序执行中的某个阶段。ＰＣＤ包含启动期和清除期三个阶段,其间ＣＡＳＰＡＳＥ家族起着重要作用。ＰＣＤ在细胞和组织的平衡、特化,以及组织分化、器官建成和对病原体的反应等植物发育过程中起着重要作用。ＰＣＤ     

Programmed cell death in cell cultures

In plants most instances of programmed cell death (PCD) occur in a number of related, or neighbouring, cells in specific tissues. However, recent research with plant cell cultures has demonstrated that PCD can be induced in single cells. The uniformity, accessibility and reduced complexity of cell cultures make them ideal research tools to investigate the regulation of PCD in plants. PCD has now been induced in cell cultures from a wide range of species including many of the so-called model species. We will discuss the establishment of cell cultures, the fractionation of single cells and isolation of protoplasts, and consider the characteristic features of PCD in cultured cells. We will review the wide range of methods to induce cell death in cell cultures ranging from abiotic stress, absence of survival signals, manipulation of signal pathway intermediates, through the induction of defence-related PCD and developmentally induced cell death.     

Programmed cell death correlates with virus transmission in a filamentous fungus

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an essential part of the defence response in plants and animals against pathogens. Here, we report that PCD is also involved in defence against pathogens of fungi. Vegetative incompatibility is a self/non-self recognition system in fungi that results in PCD when cells of incompatible strains fuse. We quantified the frequency of cell death associated with six vegetative incompatibility (vic) genes in the filamentous ascomycete fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. Cell death frequencies were compared with the effects of vic genes on transmission of viruses between the same strains. We found a significant negative correlation between cell death and virus transmission. We also show that asymmetry in cell death correlates with asymmetry in virus transmission; greater transmission occurs into vic genotypes that exhibit delayed or infrequent PCD after fusion with an incompatible strain. Furthermore, we found that virus infection can have a significant, strain-specific, positive or negative effect on PCD. Specific interactions between vic gene function and viruses, along with correlations between cell death and transmission, strongly implicate PCD as a host-mediated pathogen defence strategy in fungi.     

Programmed cell death of tracheary elements as a paradigm in plants

Plant development involves various programmed cell death (PCD) processes. Among them, cell death occurring during differentiation of procambium into tracheary elements (TEs), which are a major component of vessels or tracheids, has been studied extensively. Recent studies of PCD during TE differentiation mainly using an in vitro differentiation system of Zinnia have revealed that PCD of TEs is a plant-specific one in which the vacuole plays a central role. Furthermore, there are recent findings of several factors that may initiate PCD of TEs and that act at autonomous degradation of cell contents. Herein I summarize the present knowledge about cell death program during TE differentiation as an excellent example of PCD in plants.     

The mitochondrion--an organelle commonly involved in programmed cell death in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant cells undergoing programmed cell death (PCD) at late stages typically show chromatin condensation and endonucleolytic cleavage prior to obvious membrane or organelle ultrastructural changes. To investigate possible early PCD-associated events, we used microscopic observations and flow cytometry to quantitate mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) changes during PCD at the single cell and population levels using Arabidopsis protoplasts. A DeltaPsim loss was commonly induced early during plant PCD and was important for PCD execution, as evidenced by the concomitant reduction of the change in DeltaPsim and PCD by cyclosporin A, which inhibits mitochondrial permeability transition pores in animal cells. DeltaPsim loss occurred prior to nuclear morphological changes and was only associated with mitochondrial cytochrome c release (an apoptotic trigger in animals) in response to one of three PCD elicitors. Three different stimuli in wild type implicated DeltaPsim changes in PCD: ceramide, protoporphyrin IX, and the hypersensitive response elicitor AvrRpt2. Additionally, the behavior of the conditional ectopic cell death mutant accelerated cell death2 and ACD2-overproducing plants also implicated DeltaPsim alteration as key for PCD execution. Because ACD2 is largely a chloroplast component in mature plants, the observation that the cell death in acd2 mutants requires changes in mitochondrial functions implicates communication between chloroplasts and mitochondria in mediating PCD activation. We suggest that DeltaPsim loss is a common early marker in plant PCD, similar to what has been documented in animals. However, unlike in animal cells, in plant cells, mitochondrial cytochrome c release is not an obligatory step in PCD control.     

Dynamic intracellular reorganization of cytoskeletons and the vacuole in defense responses and hypersensitive cell death in plants

Plants have evolved various means for controlled and organized cell destruction, known as programmed cell death (PCD). In plant immune responses against microbial infection, hypersensitive cell death as a form of PCD is a crucial event to prevent the spread of biotrophic pathogens. Recent live cell imaging techniques have revealed dynamic features and significant roles of cytoskeletons and the vacuole during defense responses and the PCD. Actin microfilaments (MFs) focus on the infection sites and function as tracks for the polar transport of antimicrobial materials. To accomplish hypersensitive cell death, further dynamic changes in cytoskeletons are induced. MFs play a role in the structural and functional regulation of the vacuole, leading to execution of the PCD. We here overview spatiotemporal dynamic changes in the cytoskeletons and the vacuoles triggered by signals from pathogens, and propose a hypothetical model for MF-regulated vacuole-mediated PCD in plant immunity.     

Programmed cell death in intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is largely a process of destruction and failure of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and symptomatic IVD degeneration is thought to be one of the leading causes of morbidity or life quality deterioration in the elderly. To date, however, the mechanism of IVD degeneration is still not fully understood. Cellular loss from cell death in the process of IVD degeneration has long been confirmed and considered to contribute to ECM degradation, but the causes and the manners of IVD cell death remain unclear. Programmed cell death (PCD) is executed by an active cellular process and is extensively involved in many physiological and pathological processes, including embryonic development and human degenerative diseases. Thus, the relationship between PCD and IVD degeneration has become a new research focus of interest in recent years. By reviewing the available literature concentrated on PCD in IVD and discussing the methodology of detecting PCD in IVD cells, its inducing factors, the relationship of cell death to ECM degradation, and the potential therapy for IVD degeneration by modulation of PCD, we conclude that IVD cells undergo PCD via different signal transduction pathways in response to different stimuli, that PCD may play a role in the process of IVD degeneration, and that modulation of PCD might be a potential therapeutic strategy for IVD degeneration.     

Programmed cell death in plants: distinguishing between different modes

Programmed cell death (PCD) in plants is a crucial componentof development and defence mechanisms. In animals, differenttypes of cell death (apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis) havebeen distinguished morphologically and discussed in these morphologicalterms. PCD is largely used to describe the processes of apoptosisand autophagy (although some use PCD and apoptosis interchangeably)while necrosis is generally described as a chaotic and uncontrolledmode of death. In plants, the term PCD is widely used to describemost instances of death observed. At present, there is a vastarray of plant cell culture models and developmental systemsbeing studied by different research groups and it is clear fromwhat is described in this mass of literature that, as with animals,there does not appear to be just one type of PCD in plants.It is fundamentally important to be able to distinguish betweendifferent types of cell death for several reasons. For example,it is clear that, in cell culture systems, the window of timein which ‘PCD’ is studied by different groups varieshugely and this can have profound effects on the interpretationof data and complicates attempts to compare different researcher'sdata. In addition, different types of PCD will probably havedifferent regulators and modes of death. For this reason, inplant cell cultures an apoptotic-like PCD (AL-PCD) has beenidentified that is fairly rapid and results in a distinct corpsemorphology which is visible 4–6 h after release of cytochromec and other apoptogenic proteins. This type of morphology, distinctfrom autophagy and from necrosis, has also been observed inexamples of plant development. In this review, our model systemand how it is used to distinguish specifically between AL-PCDand necrosis will be discussed. The different types of PCD observedin plants will also be discussed and the importance of distinguishingbetween different forms of cell death will be highlighted. Key words: Apoptosis, apoptosis-like programmed cell death (AL-PCD), Arabidopsis, autophagy, mitochondria, necrosis, programmed cell death (PCD) Received 5 June 2007; Revised 13 September 2007 Accepted 20 September 2007