An In Vivo Perspective of the Role(s) of the Alternative Oxidase Pathway

Abstract

Despite intense research on the in vitro characterization of regulatory factors modulating the alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway, the regulation of its activity in vivo is still not fully understood. Advances concerning in vivo regulation of AOX based on the oxygen-isotope fractionation technique are reviewed, and regulatory factors that merit future research are highlighted. In addition, we review and discuss the main biological functions assigned to the plant AOX, and suggest future experiments involving in vivo activity measurements to test different hypothesized physiological roles.

Keywords: alternative oxidase; in vivo regulation; metabolic flexibility; oxygen-isotope fractionation; respiration.