Oxidative stress and plant cell death suppressors

Classical yeast genetic approaches have been successfully applied for identification of genes related to the suppression of cell death. Isolated genes included several reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes such as SOD (superoxide dismutase), peroxidase, and GST (glutathione S-transferase). The AtBI-1 (Arabidopsis Bax Inhibitor-1), which is a plant homolog of mammalian antiapoptotic gene BI-1, was also isolated as a suppressor of Bax-mediated lethality in yeast. Overexpression of BI-1 suppresses Bax-, H2O2−, salicylic acid-, and elicitor- induced cell death in plant cells. These data indicate conserved overlapping pathways that regulate ROS-mediated cell death in plants and animals.