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Use of LysoTracker to Detect Programmed Cell Death in Embryos and Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: October 11, 2012
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Phytoglobins regulate nitric oxide-dependent abscisic acid synthesis and ethylene-induced program cell death in
Karuna Kapoor1, Mohamed M Mira1,2, Belay T Ayele1
1Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
Planta
|February 19, 2018
Summary
Suppression of phytoglobins in maize somatic embryos reduces ABA, triggering ethylene-induced cell death. Specific phytoglobin gene expression and localization dictate embryo development or abortion, with ABA application reversing these effects.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- Developmental biology
- Plant physiology
Background:
- Phytoglobins (Pgbs) are crucial for plant development.
- Somatic embryogenesis in maize is a key process for crop improvement.
- The interplay between ABA, ethylene, and programmed cell death (PCD) in embryogenesis is complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Zea mays phytoglobins (ZmPgbs) in maize somatic embryogenesis.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking ZmPgbs, ABA, ethylene, and PCD during embryo development.
- To understand how cellular localization of ZmPgb expression affects embryonic yield.
Main Methods:
- Gene silencing of ZmPgb1.1 and ZmPgb1.2 in maize somatic embryos.
- Quantification of ABA and ethylene levels.
- Measurement of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).
- Analysis of gene expression related to ABA and ethylene biosynthesis and signaling.
- Pharmacological treatments with ABA and ethylene inhibitors.
Main Results:
- Suppression of ZmPgbs led to reduced ABA levels and elevated NO, inducing PCD.
- ZmPgb1.1 suppression caused embryo abortion, while ZmPgb1.2 suppression eliminated anchor cells, allowing further development.
- ABA depletion increased ethylene synthesis and accumulation, inhibiting embryogenesis via ROS and PCD.
- Exogenous ABA reversed the effects of ZmPgb suppression.
Conclusions:
- A model is proposed where NO accumulation in ZmPgb-suppressed cells reduces ABA, relieving ABA's inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis.
- Ethylene accumulation triggers ROS production and PCD, modulating embryonic yield based on ZmPgb expression patterns.
- Targeting ZmPgbs offers a potential strategy to control maize somatic embryo development and yield.
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