Mitochondrial ATP Synthase -Subunit Affects Plastid Retrograde Signaling in .

Plastid retrograde signaling plays a key role in coordinating the expression of plastid genes and photosynthesis-associated nuclear genes (PhANGs). Although plastid retrograde signaling can be substantially compromised by mitochondrial dysfunction, it is not yet clear whether specific mitochondrial factors are required to regulate plastid retrograde signaling. Here, we show that mitochondrial ATP synthase -subunit mutants with decreased ATP synthase activity are impaired in plastid retrograde signaling in . Transcriptome analysis revealed that the expression levels of PhANGs were significantly higher in the mutants affected in the gene encoding the mitochondrial ATP synthase -subunit, compared to wild-type (WT) seedlings when treated with lincomycin (LIN) or norflurazon (NF). Further studies indicated that the expression of nuclear genes involved in chloroplast and mitochondrial retrograde signaling was affected in the mutant seedlings treated with LIN. These changes might be linked to the modulation of some transcription factors (TFs), such as (), (), , , and (Ethylene Responsive Factors). These findings suggest that the activity of mitochondrial ATP synthase significantly influences plastid retrograde signaling.