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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Analysis of Autophagy in Penicillium chrysogenum by Using Starvation Pads in Combination With Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: February 1, 2015
PCD and autophagy in the unicellular green alga Micrasterias denticulata
Matthias Josef Affenzeller1, Anza Darehshouri, Ancuela Andosch
1Plant Physiology Division, Cell Biology Department, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Abstract:
Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a central role in normal plant development and is also induced by various biotic and abiotic stress factors. In the unicellular freshwater green alga Micrasterias denticulata morphological and biochemical hallmarks such as the appearance of autophagosomes, increased production of ROS and degradation of genomic DNA into small fragments ("DNA laddering") indicate PCD. Our data not only demonstrate that Micrasterias is capable of performing PCD under salt stress, but also that it is triggered by the ionic and not osmotic component of salinity. Additionally, results from the present and previous studies suggest that different inducers may lead to different cell death pathways in one and the same organism.
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