Unraveling the role of mitochondria during oxidative stress in plants

The sedentary habit of plants means that they must stand and fight environm ental stresses that their mobile animal cousins can avoid. A range of these abiotic stresses initiate the production in plant cells of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that ultimately lead to oxidative damage affecting th e yield and quality of plant products. A complex network of enzyme systems, producing and quenching these reactive species operate in different organe lles. It is the integration of these compartmented defense systems that coo rdinates an effective response to the various stresses. Future attempts to improve plant growth or yield must consider the complexity of inter-organel le signaling and protein targeting if they are to be successful in producin g plants with resistance to a broad range of stresses. Here we highlight th e role of pre-oxidant, antioxidant, and post-oxidant defense systems in pla nt mitochondria and the potential role of proteins targeted to both mitocho ndria and chloroplasts, in an integrated defense against oxidative damage i n plants.