Mechanisms of thermoregulation in plants
Date
2008
Authors
Watling, J.
Grant, N.
Miller, R.
Robinson, S.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Plant Signaling and Behavior, 2008; 3(8):595-597
Statement of Responsibility
Jennifer R Watling, Nicole M Grant, Rebecca E Miller and Sharon A Robinson
Conference Name
Abstract
Endothermic heating of floral tissues and even thermoregulation is known to occur in a number of plant species across a wide taxonomic range. The mechanisms by which flowers heat, however, are only just beginning to be understood, and even less is known about how heating is regulated in response to changes in ambient temperature. We have recently demonstrated that the alternative pathway of respiration, in which the alternative oxidase (AOX) rather than cytochrome C (COX) acts as terminal electron acceptor, is responsible for heat generation in one thermoregulating species, the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). In the March issue of the Journal of Experimental Botany we further demonstrated that AOX-mediated heat production in this species is regulated at both the level of gene expression and also post-translationally. Similarly, AOX has also been implicated in heat production in other thermogenic species. In this addendum we discuss the central role of AOX in heat production and how post-translational mechanisms may provide the fine control necessary for thermoregulation.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Copyright © 2008 Landes Bioscience