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Published on: October 11, 2012
Mitochondrial VDAC and hexokinase together modulate plant programmed cell death.
Ashwini Godbole1, Ashvini Kumar Dubey, Palakolanu S Reddy
1National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR,UAS-GKVK Campus, Bangalore 560065, India.
Protoplasma
|December 19, 2012
Summary
The interaction between voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and hexokinase modulates plant cell death pathways. Co-expression of hexokinase ameliorates VDAC-induced cell death in plants.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Cell Death Mechanisms
- Mitochondrial Function
Background:
- Voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and hexokinase are involved in cell death and immortalization in animals.
- These proteins are also implicated in plant death processes, but their interaction is unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between rice VDAC and hexokinase in plant cell death.
- To determine if hexokinase can modulate VDAC-induced cell death in plants.
Main Methods:
- Heterologous expression of rice VDAC in tobacco BY2 cell line and tobacco leaves.
- Co-expression of hexokinase with VDAC.
- Induction of cell death using H2O2.
Main Results:
- Heterologous expression of rice VDAC induced cell death in tobacco BY2 cells and leaves.
- Co-expression of hexokinase ameliorated VDAC-induced cell death.
- Hexokinase also abrogated H2O2-induced cell death.
Conclusions:
- The ratio and interaction of VDAC and hexokinase are critical in modulating plant cell death pathways.
- Hexokinase plays a protective role against VDAC- and H2O2-induced cell death in plants.
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