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Evidence for programmed cell death and activation of specific caspase-like enzymes in the tomato fruit heat stress response

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Abstract

The tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit is the best available model to study the stress response of fleshy fruit. Programmed cell death (PCD) plays an important role in stress responses in mammals and plants. In this study, we provide evidence that PCD is triggered in the tomato fruit heat stress response by detection of the sequential diagnostic PCD events, including release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-like proteases and the presence of TUNEL-positive nuclei. Investigating the time course of these events for 12 h after heat treatment indicated that cytochrome c release and caspase-like protease activation occurred rapidly and were consistent with the onset of DNA fragmentation. In addition, LEHDase and DEVDase enzymes were specifically activated in tomato fruit pericarp during the heat treatment and recovery time. There was no significant activation of YVADase or IETDase proteases. Preincubation of pericarp discs with the broad-spectrum, cell-permeable caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, suppressed heat-induced cell death measured by trypan blue, accompanied by a decrease in LEHDase and DEVDase activities.

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Abbreviations

AMC:

7-Amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin

CHO:

Aldehyde

COX:

Cytochrome c oxidase

DAPI:

4′-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole

DEVD:

N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp

HS:

Heat stress

IETD:

N-acetyl-Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp

LEHD:

N-acetyl-Leu-Glu-His-Asp

PCD:

Programmed cell death

TUNEL:

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling

YVAD:

N-acetyl-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp

Z-VAD-FMK:

Z-Val-Ala-Asp(OCH3)-Fluoromethylketone

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (nos. 30500352 and 30430490) and a grant from the 11th Five-year Plan of the China Science and Technology Support Programme (2006BAD22B01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, No. 17 Qinghua East Road, 100083, Beijing, China

    Gui-Qin Qu, Xiang Liu, Ya-Li Zhang, Dan Yao, Qiu-Min Ma, Ming-Yu Yang, Wen-Hua Zhu, Shi Yu & Yun-Bo Luo

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  1. Gui-Qin Qu
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  2. Xiang Liu
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  3. Ya-Li Zhang
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  4. Dan Yao
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  7. Wen-Hua Zhu
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  8. Shi Yu
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  9. Yun-Bo Luo
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Correspondence to Yun-Bo Luo.

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Gui-Qin Qu and Xiang Liu contributed equally to this work.

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Qu, GQ., Liu, X., Zhang, YL. et al. Evidence for programmed cell death and activation of specific caspase-like enzymes in the tomato fruit heat stress response. Planta 229, 1269–1279 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-009-0908-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-009-0908-4

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