Mitochondria in parasitic plants

authored by

Gitte Petersen, Benjamin Anderson, Hans Peter Braun, Etienne H. Meyer, Ian Max Møller

Abstract

Plant mitochondrial genomes are renowned for their structural complexity, extreme variation in size and mutation rates, and ability to incorporate foreign DNA. Parasitic flowering plants are no exception, and the close association between parasite and host may even enhance the likelihood of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between them. Recent studies on mistletoes (Viscum) have revealed that these parasites have lost an exceptional number of mitochondrial genes, including all complex I genes of the respiratory chain. At the same time, an altered respiratory pathway has been demonstrated. Here we review the current understanding of mitochondrial evolution in parasitic plants with a special emphasis on HGT to and from parasite mitochondrial genomes, as well as the uniquely altered mitochondria in Viscum and related plants.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Plant Genetics

External Organisation(s)

Stockholm University
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Aarhus University

Type

Review article

Journal

MITOCHONDRION

Volume

52

Pages

173-182

No. of pages

10

ISSN

1567-7249

Publication date

05.2020

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Molecular Medicine, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 15 - Life on Land

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2020.03.008 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.15488/10845 (Access: Open)