Role of AOX1A in optimizing photosynthesis

The importance of the alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway, particularly AOX1A, in optimizing photosynthesis during de-etiolation, under elevated CO₂, low temperature, high light or combined light and drought stress is well documented. In the present study, the role of AOX1A in optimizing photosynthesis was investigated when electron transport through the cytochrome c oxidase (COX) pathway was restricted at complex III.

Vishwakarma et al. treat wild-type and aox1a knock-out mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana with antimycin A and find that restriction of the cytochrome c oxidase (COX) pathway in the background of an impaired AOX pathway results in a substantial decrease in respiration, photosynthesis, chloroplastic heat dissipation, ascorbate level and antioxidant systems. This is accompanied by cellular redox imbalance, ROS accumulation and membrane damage. They conclude that AOX1A plays a significant role in sustaining the chloroplastic redox state and energization to optimize photosynthesis by regulating cellular redox homeostasis and ROS generation when electron transport through the COX pathway is disturbed at complex III.

This article appears in the special issue ROS and NO Reactions in Plants.