The multiplicity of dehydrogenases in the electron transport chain of plant mitochondria

The electron transport chain in mitochondria of different organisms contains a mixture of common and specialised components. The specialised enzymes form branches to the universal electron path, especially at the level of ubiquinone, and allow the chain to adjust to different cellular and metabolic requirements. In plants, specialised components have been known for a long time. However, recently, the known number of plant respiratory chain dehydrogenases has increased, including both components specific to plants and those with mammalian counterparts. This review will highlight the novel branches and their consequences for the understanding of electron transport and redundancy of electron paths. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society. All rights reserved.