Plant cell microcompartments: a redox-signaling perspective

Abstract

This review describes how transient protein-protein interactions can contribute to direct information flow between subsequent steps of metabolic and signaling pathways, focusing on the redox perspective. Posttranslational modifications are often the basis for the dynamic nature of such macromolecular aggregates, named microcompartments. The high cellular protein concentration promotes these interactions that are prone to disappear upon the extraction of proteins from cells. Changes of signaling molecules, such as metabolites, effectors or phytohormones, or the redox state in the cellular microenvironment, can modulate them. The signaling network can, therefore, respond in a very flexible and appropriate manner, such that metabolism, stress responses, and developmental steps are integrated by multiple and changing contacts between functional modules. This allows plants to survive and persist by continuously and flexibly adapting to a challenging or even adverse environment.