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Measuring Gene Expression in Bombarded Barley Aleurone Layers with Increased Throughput
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Signalling in the cereal aleurone: hormones, reactive oxygen and cell death
Angelika Fath1, Paul C Bethke1, Maria V Belligni2
1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA.
The New Phytologist
|April 20, 2021
Summary
Gibberellins (GAs) trigger programmed cell death in cereal aleurone cells, while abscisic acid (ABA) prevents it. GA-induced cell death involves reactive oxygen species accumulation and lytic vacuole formation, distinct from apoptosis.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Hormonal signaling in plants
Background:
- Cereal aleurone serves as a model for studying hormonal signaling.
- Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs) induce distinct, time-dependent responses in aleurone cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hormonal regulation of programmed cell death (PCD) in cereal aleurone layers.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying GA-induced and ABA-mediated aleurone cell death.
Main Methods:
- Hormone treatments (ABA and GAs) applied to intact aleurone layers and protoplasts.
- Microscopic observation of cell death progression and vacuole development.
- Enzyme activity assays for reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolizing enzymes.
Main Results:
- GAs promote aleurone cell death, occurring within 24 hours in intact layers and 4 days in protoplasts.
- ABA inhibits GA-induced cell death, delaying the process.
- GA-treated cells develop large, acidic vacuoles and show decreased activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes (APX, CAT, SOD).
- ABA-treated cells maintain or increase activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes.
Conclusions:
- Aleurone cell death induced by GAs is not apoptotic but involves lytic vacuole formation.
- Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in GA-treated cells likely leads to membrane damage and cell death.
- ABA acts antagonistically to GAs, protecting aleurone cells by maintaining ROS-scavenging enzyme activity.
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