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Plant mitochondrial pathway leading to programmed cell death
Author(s) -
Vianello Angelo,
Zancani Marco,
Peresson Carlo,
Petrussa Elisa,
Casolo Valentino,
Krajňáková Jana,
Patui Sonia,
Braidot Enrico,
Macrì Francesco
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2006.00767.x
Subject(s) - programmed cell death , mitochondrion , vacuole , organelle , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cytoplasm , fragmentation (computing) , multicellular organism , plant cell , apoptosis , cell , biochemistry , ecology , gene
Programmed cell death (PCD) is a finely tuned process of multicellular organisms. In higher plants, PCD regulates many developmental processes and the response of host plants to incompatible pathogens (hypersensitive response). Four types of PCD have been described in plants, mainly associated to vacuole rupture, that is followed by the appearance of the typical PCD hallmarks (i.e. nuclear DNA fragmentation and cell shrinkage). However, in some cases vacuole collapse is preceded by an early alteration of other subcellular organelles, such as mitochondria. In particular, the central role played by mitochondria in PCD has been largely recognised in animal cells. This review deals with the involvement of mitochondria in the manifestation of plant PCD, in comparison to that described in animal PCD. The main hallmark, connecting animal and plant PCD via mitochondria, is represented by the release of cytochrome c and possibly other chemicals such as nucleases, which may be accomplished by different mechanisms, involving both swelling and non‐swelling of the organelles.