Microarrays Programmed Cell Death

Our group uses forward genetics and microarray technology coupled with reversed genetics to unravel the mechanisms of programmed cell death in Arabidopsis thaliana. We have developed two cell death systems, one based on the fungal AAL toxin interfering with spingolipid metabolism and the other based on the catalase inhibitor 3-aminotriazole that elevates H₂O₂ levels.

Microarray analysis of AAL toxin and H₂O₂ induced PCD revealed a number of genes highly regulated in a similar fashion. Knockout mutants of some of those genes are being studied at the moment in order to functionally characterize the role of these genes in PCD. Furthermore, we used AAL toxin and H₂O₂ to screen T-DNA and EMS mutagenized populations for mutants with altered sensitivity to the two cell death stimuli. The screening resulted in identification of a number of mutants. Further aim of the group is extending that collection of mutants, identifying the mutated genes and integrating the obtained information with the physiological data and molecular biology data from the microarrays in order to increase our understanding about PCD in higher plants.

 

SupplementalTable1 AAL.xls [XLS] 

 

SupplementalTable1 H2O2.xls [XLS]

 

SupplementalTable2 atr1/loh2 H2O2.xls [XLS]