玉米中的细胞程序性死亡及其遗传机制

玉米是主要农作物之一 ,也是一种重要的模式研究植物。玉米生长发育过程中自始至终伴随着细胞程序性死亡 (programmedcelldeathPCD)。这些PCD大致分为三大类 ,一类是正常生长发育过程中的PCD ;一类是抗病过程中的PCD或突变模拟病斑 ;另一类是外界逆境因素诱导的PCD。在玉米中已发现许多细胞死亡突变体 ,导致这些突变的一般是一个已知的可转座元素 ,这样便可通过转座子标签法来分离这些突变体的相应基因。对这些突变体的分析将阐明玉米PCD的分子机制及遗传调控 ,从而为人工控制玉米PCD提供理论基础 ,并将为其它植物的PCD研究提供一种模型。

PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH IN MAIZE AND ITS MECHANISMS

Maize is a main crop, and is an excellent model system in plant sciences. It requires that specific cells be eliminated by programmed cell death (PCD) during maize life cycle. PCD in maize can be classified into three types: during normal growth and development, during pathogenesis or mutant-mimic disease phenotype, and induced by environmental stresses. A vast collection of maize mutants exists, and many of these mutants show phenotypes that suggest aberrant cell-death mechanisms. The agent responsible for these mutations is often a characterized transposable element, making it possible to isolate the genes involved using transposon-tagging strategies. Thus,maize is developing into an excellent model system for the study of cell-death mechanisms in plants.