| Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically regulated process that rids plants and animals of unneeded cells during development, disease, and homeostasis. Similar elements in the molecular pathways of PCD have been identified in both plants and animals suggesting that PCD execution is conserved across diverse taxa. In this study, a PCD gene, reaper ( rpr) derived from Drosophila melanogaster, was cloned and transiently expressed in Nicotiana tabacum plants. RT-PCR, performed using rpr-specific primers, showed RPR expression. In spite of transient RPR expression, cell death was not observed during observations performed 72 to 96 hours post-inoculation. These results indicate that rpr is unable to induce PCD in plants, further suggesting that a caspase-dependent pathway, similar to that of Drosophila, is nonexistent in plants. |
