RNA-Seq analysis of programmed cell death in Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension culture

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically controlled pathway for selectivecellular suicide. In plants, PCD contributes to normal development, as well asresponses to abiotic and biotic stress stimuli. Consequently, a detailed understanding of plant PCD and its regulation is urgently required to aid development of climate change and disease-resilient crops. We addressed this challenge by using an Arabidopsis thaliana cell suspension system, which allows precise tracking of PCD rates induced, to generate unique RNA-seq datasets providing a snapshot of transcriptional changes occurring in the plant cells committed to PCD. Combining a range of stress treatments and chemical PCD modulators allowed inference of core and stimuli-specific gene regulatory networks regulating the early stages of PCD.