Reversal of Plant Cell Death by Auxin
Author Information
Author(s): Gopalan Suresh
Primary Institution: Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital & Department of Genetics, Harvard University
Hypothesis
Can the HR cell death program induced by a purified bacterial elicitor be reversed by the plant growth regulator auxin?
Conclusion
The cell death program initiated by harpin can be reversed until late in the process without affecting markers of local and systemic immunity.
Supporting Evidence
- Auxin can inhibit cell death caused by harpin.
- The reversal of cell death can occur even after significant time has passed.
- Induction of immune response markers is not affected by the inhibition of cell death.
Takeaway
This study shows that a plant can stop a death program caused by a bacterial infection even after it has started, using a growth chemical called auxin.
Methodology
The study involved infiltrating auxin and harpin into the leaves of Nicotiana tabacum and observing the effects on cell death.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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