The functional role of nitric oxide in plant mitochondrial metabolism

Abstract

In recent years, mitochondrial nitric oxide (NO) production has attracted increasing attention. Mitochondria generate NO using nitrite as a substrate. Cytochrome c oxidase and other components of the electron transport chain also contribute to NO generation. Accumulating evidence indicates that mitochondria are scavengers of NO. Furthermore, several genes encoding mitochondrial proteins, as well as mitochondrial proteins, are regulated by NO. In this chapter, we provided an overview of the mechanisms of NO generation and scavenging in mitochondria and of the NO-dependent regulation of proteins and genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. In addition, the functional roles of NO in mitochondrial metabolism, such as inhibition of aconitase, production of ATP and induction of alternative oxidase are presented.