The role of autophagy in plant mitochondrial retrograde signalling

In this thesis, the role of senescence and autophagy in mitochondria-to-nuclear retrograde signalling by the ER-bound transcription factor ANAC017 was examined in Arabidopsis. ANAC017 overexpression led to senescing phenotypes similar to autophagy-deficient mutants. Inhibition of autophagy resulted in suppression of antimcin A (AA) stimulated retrograde signalling, whereas autophagy induction primed them for elevated responses to AA. Also, both N- and C-termini of ANAC017 were found to be located in the ER lumen, indicating a complex process is required to release it to the nucleus. Together, these results suggest a novel model for ANAC017 activation of retrograde signalling that involves autophagy.