Cytochrome c Can Induce Programmed Cell Death in Plant Cells

The study revealed the detection of stereotypic hallmarks of the apoptosis during cell death induced by cytochrome c in carrot (Daucus carota L.) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) protoplasts. The progressive delineation of fragmented DNA into distinct bodies, coincident with the appearance of DNA ladders, was also observed during death of the cytochrome c treated carrot and tobacco protoplasts. TUNEL analysis of cells revealed DNA fragmentation localized in the dying cells as well as the additional formation of apoptotic like bodies. These results suggest that cytochrome c can induce programmed cell death (PCD) in plant cells; also indicate that PCD in plants involves some of the characteristics of animal apoptosis among which DNA cleavage is a potential indicator of PCD in plants.