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Chitosan induces Ca 2+ ‐mediated programmed cell death in soybean cells
Author(s) -
Zuppini Anna,
Baldan Barbara,
Millioni Renato,
Favaron Francesco,
Navazio Lorella,
Mariani Paola
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00969.x
Subject(s) - programmed cell death , extracellular , microbiology and biotechnology , cytosol , egta , apoptosis , chitosan , intracellular , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , calcium , enzyme , organic chemistry
Summary• Chitosan, a component of the cell wall of many fungi, has been widely used to mimic pathogen attack and has been shown to induce several defence responses. • Here we show that low concentrations (50 µg ml −1 ) of chitosan are able to induce an increase in cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] cyt ), accumulation of H 2 O 2 in the culture medium, induction of the defence gene chalcone synthase ( chs ), and cell death in soybean cells ( Glycine max ). • Chitosan‐induced cell death occurred through cytoplasmic shrinkage, chromatin condensation and activation of caspase 3‐like protease, suggesting the activation of a programmed cell death (PCD) pathway. Buffering extracellular Ca 2+ with the Ca 2+ chelator EGTA prevents [Ca 2+ ] cyt elevation, H 2 O 2 production and all downstream PCD features, but not cell death. • Higher doses (200 µg ml −1 ) of chitosan evoked neither Ca 2+ transient and H 2 O 2 production nor caspase 3‐like activation, but caused cell death, possibly as a result of plasma membrane disturbance.