Compartmentalization of Reactive Oxygen Species and Nitric Oxide Production in Plant Cells: An Overview

Abstract

We discuss cellular roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in particular superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), in particular nitric oxide (NO), in relation to compartmentalization of their production in plant cells. ROS and RNS appear as by-products of plant metabolism. The sites for their production and utilization include practically all cellular compartments: chloroplasts, mitochondria, peroxisomes, cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, and plasma membrane. ROS and RNS can serve as metabolites, metabolic regulators, and signalling agents. During biotic and abiotic stresses ROS and RNS play active role in coordination of plant response to changing environmental conditions and in the mechanisms of survival. We conclude that the knowledge about compartmentalization of ROS and RNS formation in plant cells is essential for understanding integration of metabolic processes in whole organism and of strategies of biochemical adaptation of plants.