Mitochondrial energy-dissipation pathway and cellular redox disruption compromises Arabidopsis resistance to turnip crinkle virus infection

Members of the plant mitochondrial energy-dissipation pathway (MEDP) coordinate cellular energy metabolism, redox homeostasis and the balance of ROS production. However, the roles of MEDP members, particularly uncoupling protein (UCP), in resistance to turnip crinkle virus infection (TCV) are poorly understood. Here, we showed that disrupting some MEDP genes compromises plant resistance to TCV viral infection and this is partly associated with damaged photosynthetic characteristics, altered cellular redox and increased ROS production. Experiments using mutant plants with impaired cellular compartment redox poising further demonstrated that impaired chloroplast/mitochondria and cystosol redox increases the susceptibility of plants to viral infection. Our results illustrate a mechanism by which MEDP and cellular compartment redox act in concert to regulate plant resistance to viral infections.