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Analysis of programmed cell death in wheat endosperm reveals differences in endosperm development between cereals
1Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside 92521-0129, USA.
Plant Molecular Biology
|May 27, 1999
Summary
Programmed cell death in cereal endosperm, like in maize, is common. Wheat endosperm also undergoes this process, regulated by ethylene, but with distinct execution patterns.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Maize endosperm exhibits programmed cell death (PCD) during development.
- It remains unclear if this PCD is a conserved trait across cereals or an artifact of selection for enlarged endosperm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of programmed cell death in wheat endosperm.
- To compare the wheat endosperm PCD pathway with that of maize.
- To determine the role of ethylene in wheat endosperm PCD.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of endosperm development in maize and wheat.
- Observation of cell death initiation and progression.
- Measurement of ethylene production and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation.
Main Results:
- Wheat endosperm undergoes programmed cell death with stochastic initiation and progression.
- This process shares similarities but also exhibits execution differences compared to maize endosperm PCD.
- Ethylene production peaks during early development, and DNA fragmentation is regulated by ethylene levels and perception.
Conclusions:
- Programmed cell death of endosperm and its regulation by ethylene are conserved features among cereals, not unique to maize.
- Distinct differences exist in the execution of the endosperm PCD program across different cereal species.