The Interplay of ROS and Iron Signaling in Plants

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron (Fe) metabolic pathways are linked. The first part of this chapter summarizes how Fe contributes to ROS production and elimination in cells. We review shortly how plants acquire Fe. Comparative transcriptomic datasets reflecting high Fe, low Fe, and very low Fe responses are scanned for differentially expressed genes encoding enzymes for ROS generation and scavenging as well as ROS signature genes. These genes are assembled and their expression patterns are discussed in light of the importance of ROS production under high and very low Fe. In the second part of this chapter, we highlight different areas of research questions revealing the regulatory interconnections between ROS and Fe signaling, namely NADPH oxidase signaling and heme breakdown, glutathione-based signaling, retrograde chloroplast, and Fe-S cluster signaling, ferroptosis and ROS marker ZAT12-mediated signaling.