In our institute (of the Netherlands Department of Agriculture, located
in Wageningen) we study both the fundamental and applied aspects of plant
senescence.
I became a member of this discussion group in order to learn the latest
about the physiology and molecular biology of senescence in animal cells,
as I intend to write a review comparing the mechanisms of senescence in
plant and animal cells.
First of all, although I have not found it, I wonder whether has such
review has been published before. Secondly, I would be grateful for
recent literature references to reviews regarding the cellular mechanisms
of animal senescence.
Plant senescence is now generally thought to be related to an increase
in free radicals, due to a decrease in the activity of scavenging molecu-
les. The free radicals then result in a decreased phospholipid content of
membranes, which would explain why the cells show increased leakage of
solutes.
You can also e-mail me directly: w.g.van.doorn at ato.agro.nl
Wouter van Doorn
