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Short-term salinity stress in tobacco plants leads to the onset of animal-like PCD hallmarks in planta in contrast to long-term stress

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Abstract

Recent results have identified mitochondria as centers of stress-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in plants. Depolarization of plant mitochondrial membrane during stress results the release of programmed cell death (PCD)-inducing factors in the cytosol in a fashion similar to the onset of animal-like PCD. Herein, we report significant similarities of animal-like PCD and salinity stress-induced plant PCD. Short-term salinity stress (3 h) led to depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c (CYT-c), which was visualized using a contemporary molecular technique, activation of caspase-3 type proteases and the onset of PCD in wild type tobacco plants, Nicotiana tabacum cv. Petit Havana. However, PCD was not manifested during long-term salinity stress (24 h). Interestingly long-term salinity stress led to necrotic-like features, which were accompanied by collapse of respiration, reduction of key components of the respiratory chain, such as CYT-c and alternative oxidase, ATP depletion and high proteolytic activity. The results suggest that salinity stress of tobacco plants in planta leads to the onset of animal-like PCD only during the early stages post-stress, while long-term stress leads to necrotic-like features.

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Abbreviations

PCD:

Programmed cell death

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

mROS:

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species

CYT-c :

Cytochrome c

nPG:

n-Propyl gallate

SHAM:

Salicylhydroxamic acid

AOX:

Alternative oxidase

PTOX:

Plastid terminal oxidase

PMSF:

Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride

ETC:

Electron transport chain

NBT:

Nitroblue tetrazolium

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Markela Katidou and Nikos Kourtis for excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by the National and European resources (EPEAEKII-Pythagoras), and COST858, COST FA065 Actions.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 71409, Heraklion Crete, Greece

    Efthimios A. Andronis & Kalliopi A. Roubelakis-Angelakis

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  1. Efthimios A. Andronis
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  2. Kalliopi A. Roubelakis-Angelakis
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Correspondence to Kalliopi A. Roubelakis-Angelakis.

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Andronis, E.A., Roubelakis-Angelakis, K.A. Short-term salinity stress in tobacco plants leads to the onset of animal-like PCD hallmarks in planta in contrast to long-term stress. Planta 231, 437–448 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-009-1060-x

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