Monitoring farnesol-induced toxicity in tobacco BY-2 cells with a fluorescent analog

Abstract In a previous study (A. Hemmerlin, T.J. Bach, Plant Physiol. 123 (2000) 1257–1268), we have demonstrated that above a critical concentration, treatment with all- trans -farnesol induces cell-death in Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Bright Yellow-2 (TBY-2) cells. Now we used a fluorescent analog of farnesol (Fol FLUO ), in which an isoprene unit is replaced by the fluorochrome 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl, to visualize how cell integrity is affected. Fol FLUO exhibited the same toxicity as the natural compound and was shown to be readily taken up by TBY-2 cells, followed by integration into subcellular membrane structures. Although the plasma membrane seemed not to be labeled, Fol FLUO was associated with the tonoplast, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus or lipid bodies. Longer exposure times and increased Fol FLUO accumulation triggered the formation and proliferation of new membrane structures of as yet unknown function. Finally, at even higher and clearly cytotoxic concentrations of the analog, the cell contents became clearly disorganized, with cell swelling and ultimately plasmolysis.