The biogenesis and regulation of the plant oxidative phosphorylation system

Mitochondria are central organelles for respiration in plants. At the heart of this process is oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system, which generates ATP required for cellular energetic needs. OXPHOS complexes comprise of multiple subunits that originated from both mitochondrial and nuclear genome, which requires careful orchestration of expression, translation, import, and assembly. Constant exposure to reactive oxygen species due to redox activity also renders OXPHOS subunits to be more prone to oxidative damage, which requires coordination of disassembly and degradation. In this review, we highlight the composition, assembly, and activity of OXPHOS complexes in plants based on recent biochemical and structural studies. We also discuss how plants regulate the biogenesis and turnover of OXPHOS subunits and the importance of OXPHOS in overall plant respiration. Further studies in determining the regulation of biogenesis and activity of OXPHOS will advances the field, especially in understanding plant respiration and its role to plant growth and development.

Automated summary

Mitochondria are crucial for plant respiration, and their oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system generates ATP for cellular energy needs. OXPHOS complexes consist of subunits from both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, requiring careful regulation of expression, translation, import, and assembly. OXPHOS subunits are prone to oxidative damage due to reactive oxygen species, necessitating coordinated disassembly and degradation. This review highlights recent studies on the composition, assembly, and activity of plant OXPHOS complexes, and discusses the regulation of their biogenesis and turnover, as well as the importance of OXPHOS in plant respiration and growth.