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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Evaluation of Caspase Activation to Assess Innate Immune Cell Death
Published on: January 20, 2023
Initiation of programmed cell death in self-incompatibility: role for cytoskeleton modifications and several
Maurice Bosch1, Natalie S Poulter, Sabina Vatovec
1School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham. B15 2TT, UK.
Abstract:
Programmed cell death (PCD) is an important and universal process regulating precise death of unwanted cells in eukaryotes. In plants, the existence of PCD has been firmly established for about a decade, and many components shown to be involved in apoptosis/PCD in mammalian systems are found in plant cells undergoing PCD. Here, we review work from our lab demonstrating the involvement of PCD in the self-incompatibility response in Papaver rhoeas pollen. This utilization of PCD as a consequence of a specific pollen-pistil interaction provides a very neat way to destroy unwanted 'self', but not 'non-self' pollen. We discuss recent data providing evidence for SI-induced activation of several caspase-like activities and suggest that an acidification of the cytosol may be a key turning point in the activation of caspase-like proteases executing PCD. We also review data showing the involvement of the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons as well as that of a MAPK in signalling to caspase-mediated PCD. Potential links between these various components in signalling to PCD are discussed. Together, this begins to build a picture of PCD in a single cell system, triggered by a receptor-ligand interaction.
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Overview of Cell Death
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...

