Orientador: Ivan de Godoy Maia / Banca: Jiri Boreck / Banca: Carolina Munari Rodrogues / Banca: Douglas Silva Domingues / Banca: Edvaldo Amaral Aparecido da Silva / Resumo: As proteínas desacopladoras (UCPs) são proteínas especializadas no transporte mitocondrial que dissipam o gradiente eletroquímico de prótons gerados na respiração. Essas proteínas desempenham um papel na manutenção da função mitocondrial e sua importância como componente da tolerância celular ao estresse oxidativo tem sido demonstrada em diversos estudos realizados tanto in vitro com em in vivo. No presente estudo, foram realizados dois estudos empregando UCPs de plantas. Numa primeira abordagem foi realizada uma análise do transcriptoma de plantas transgênicas de tabaco que superexpressam o gene AtUCP1 de Arabidopsis thaliana utilizando a técnica de RNA-Seq. Para o RNA-Seq foi gerado de mais de um milhão de reads com 150 pb em média para cada biblioteca testada. A partir desses reads, um conjunto de aproximadamente 34.000 contigs foi obtido. Após as análises foi possível identificar um total de 816 genes diferencialmente expressos entre as linhagens transgênicas e o controle selvagem, sendo 239 genes induzidos (p≤0,001) e 577 reprimidos (p≤0,001). Em paralelo, uma análise de expressão gênica foi empreendida utilizando mutantes de inserção de arabidopsis para os genes AtUCP1-3, dois deles caracterizados no presente estudo (atucp2 e atucp3), com o objetivo de verificar a funcionalidade e redundância entre essas isoformas. Segundo os resultados obtidos, uma possível compensação só foi observada no mutante atucp3 no qual os genes AtUCP1 e AtUCP2 foram induzidos tanto em condições fisiológicas normais como em condições de estresse salino e osmótico / Abstract: Mitochondrial inner membrane uncoupling proteins (UCP) dissipate the proton electrochemical gradient established by the respiratory chain, thus affecting the yield of ATP synthesis. These proteins play a role in maintaining mitochondrial function and their importance as cellular oxidative stress tolerance component has been demonstrated in several studies performed in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the functional role of plant UCPs was investigated. In a first approach, a transcriptomic analysis of tobacco plants overexpressing the AtUCP1 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana was performed using RNA-seq analysis. The RNA-sequencing generated over a million of reads with 150 base pair on average for each library. From these reads, a set of approximately 34,000 contigs was obtained. A total of 816 differentially expressed genes between transgenic lines and wild-type control was identified. Amongst them, 239 were up-regulated (p≤0,001) and 577 were down-regulated (p≤0,001). In parallel, a gene expression analysis was performed using Arabidopsis insertion mutants for the AtUCP1-3 genes, two of them (atucp2 and atucp3) being characterized in this study. The main purpose was to verify the functionality and the existence of redundancy between the target genes. According to the obtained results, a compensatory expression was observed only in the atucp3 background, in which the AtUCP1 and AtUCP2 genes were induced both in normal physiological conditions and under salt and osmotic stresses / Doutor

A maioria das proteínas organelares são codificadas pelo núcleo, sintetizadas no citosol e direcionadas especificamente ao seu destino final. O direcionamento aos diferentes subcompartimentos subcelulares é feito por uma complexa e ampla maquinaria que envolve sequências de direcionamento, proteínas citossólicas e receptores organelares específicos. Entretanto, relativamente pouco se conhece sobre o processo na qual uma proteína recém sintetizada é transportada ao seu destino final. Parte significativa das proteínas destinadas às organelas possui a informação necessária ao seu transporte localizada na extremidade N-terminal. Vários estudos têm buscado caracterizar as etapas que envolvem a localização de uma proteína, desde os estágios iniciais após a sua síntese até os fatores que regulam o seu correto endereçamento. Modificações pós-traducionais, regiões 5-UTR, região C-terminal, transporte por vias alternativas e interações proteína-proteína podem agir na localização subcelular de proteínas. O estudo de redes biomoleculares se tornou um dos focos de estudo da biologia de sistemas e demonstra um enorme potencial na descoberta de diversos processos biológicos, como as interações proteína-proteína. As proteínas que possuem duplo direcionamento (DD) em Arabidopsis thaliana foram analisadas em redes de interação proteína-proteína (PPI) e proteínas que interagem com proteínas de DD foram escolhidas quanto a função e localização para a verificação de um eventual papel dessas proteínas na localização subcelular de outras proteínas. Para tanto, foram realizadas varreduras em ensaios de duplo-híbrido em levedura para os genes de GRF9 (14-3-3) e ATH7 (tiorredoxina tipo h). Os resultados para GRF9 incluem as proteínas peroxidase PRXR1 e dihidrolipoamida acetiltransferase. Já os resultados para ATH7 mostram a interação com glutamina sintetase (AT5G35630.3). A combinação dos estudos in silico com a varredura via duplo-híbrido de levedura abrem novas perspectivas no entendimento do controle da localização subcelular de proteínas. / Most organellar proteins are nuclear encoded, synthesized in the cytosol and then targeted to their destination. Specific subcellular targeting is conducted by a complex machinery for the specific localization of the proteins, which includes targeting sequences, cytosolic proteins and specific organelar receptors. However, little is known about the process that happens from the synthesis of a protein and the transport to its final destination. Most organellar proteins contain the information for their localization in the N-terminal sequence. Many studies have searched to characterize the steps involved in protein targeting, from the early stages after its synthesis to the cytosolic factors regulating its correct localization. Post-translational modifications, 5-UTR regions, the C-terminal extension on the protein, alternative transport pathways and proteinprotein interactions may influence the subcellular location of some proteins. The use of biomolecular netwoks has become one of the main focus of systems biology studies and possess a major potential in the discovery of several biological processes, such as protein-protein interactions (PPI). Dual-targeted (DT) proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana were analyzed through a PPI network, and the proteins displaying interactions with DT proteins were selected by their funtion and location. The selected proteins were analyzed for their eventual role in the subcellular targeting of other proteins. Screenings in yeast two-hibrid assays were performed for the genes GRF9 (14-3-3) and ATH7 (h-type thioredoxin). The results for GRF9 include a peroxidase (PRXR1) and dihydrolipamide acetyltransferase. The results for ATH7 include glutamine synthetase (AT5G35630.3). Combination of in silico analysis with yeast two-hibrid screenings provide new perspectives for understanding the control of subcellular localization.

[Truncated abstract] Mitochondria play an essential role in diverse metabolic pathways in plants. Their primary roles are the oxidation of organic acids via the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the synthesis of ATP coupled to the transfer of electrons from reduced NAD+ to oxygen via the electron transport chain. Plant mitochondria also contain nonphosphorylating bypasses of the respiratory chain, catalysed by the alternative oxidase (AOX), type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases (NDHs) and uncoupling proteins (UCPs). Each of these components bypasses energy conservation by either circumventing the formation or utilization of the electrochemical proton gradient, and each is encoded by a small gene family in Arabidopsis. It is proposed that the alterative pathways are likely to be involved in balancing cellular redox and energy status and in minimizing the production of ROS generated by over-reduction of basal respiratory chain components. Furthermore the alternative respiratory pathways are thought to play a role in plant responses to stress. In this study a transcriptomic approach was taken to investigate the role of the alternative respiratory pathways in Arabidopsis, with a focus on elucidating the role and regulation of the AOX gene family. Analysis of the expression of the five AOX genes in Arabidopsis over development and in a range of tissues revealed a unique spatiotemporal expression pattern for each gene. Expression profiling using quantitative RT-PCR, MPSS and microarrays detected an abundance of the AOX1a transcript throughout the plant and over development. The expression patterns of other AOX genes provide insight into their putative roles, AOX1b was expressed predominantly in the flower, AOX1d was particularly abundant in senescing leaves and AOX2 expression was only observed in the seed.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T16:53:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-10-01Bitstream added on 2015-05-14T16:59:00Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000822315.pdf: 2572073 bytes, checksum: 28c07c8704c57c478b3bb4d84bef72f3 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / As proteínas desacopladoras (UCPs) são proteínas especializadas no transporte mitocondrial que dissipam o gradiente eletroquímico de prótons gerados na respiração. Essas proteínas desempenham um papel na manutenção da função mitocondrial e sua importância como componente da tolerância celular ao estresse oxidativo tem sido demonstrada em diversos estudos realizados tanto in vitro com em in vivo. No presente estudo, foram realizados dois estudos empregando UCPs de plantas. Numa primeira abordagem foi realizada uma análise do transcriptoma de plantas transgênicas de tabaco que superexpressam o gene AtUCP1 de Arabidopsis thaliana utilizando a técnica de RNA-Seq. Para o RNA-Seq foi gerado de mais de um milhão de reads com 150 pb em média para cada biblioteca testada. A partir desses reads, um conjunto de aproximadamente 34.000 contigs foi obtido. Após as análises foi possível identificar um total de 816 genes diferencialmente expressos entre as linhagens transgênicas e o controle selvagem, sendo 239 genes induzidos (p≤0,001) e 577 reprimidos (p≤0,001). Em paralelo, uma análise de expressão gênica foi empreendida utilizando mutantes de inserção de arabidopsis para os genes AtUCP1-3, dois deles caracterizados no presente estudo (atucp2 e atucp3), com o objetivo de verificar a funcionalidade e redundância entre essas isoformas. Segundo os resultados obtidos, uma possível compensação só foi observada no mutante atucp3 no qual os genes AtUCP1 e AtUCP2 foram induzidos tanto em condições fisiológicas normais como em condições de estresse salino e osmótico / Mitochondrial inner membrane uncoupling proteins (UCP) dissipate the proton electrochemical gradient established by the respiratory chain, thus affecting the yield of ATP synthesis. These proteins play a role in maintaining mitochondrial function and their importance as cellular oxidative stress tolerance component has been demonstrated in several studies performed in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the functional role of plant UCPs was investigated. In a first approach, a transcriptomic analysis of tobacco plants overexpressing the AtUCP1 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana was performed using RNA-seq analysis. The RNA-sequencing generated over a million of reads with 150 base pair on average for each library. From these reads, a set of approximately 34,000 contigs was obtained. A total of 816 differentially expressed genes between transgenic lines and wild-type control was identified. Amongst them, 239 were up-regulated (p≤0,001) and 577 were down-regulated (p≤0,001). In parallel, a gene expression analysis was performed using Arabidopsis insertion mutants for the AtUCP1-3 genes, two of them (atucp2 and atucp3) being characterized in this study. The main purpose was to verify the functionality and the existence of redundancy between the target genes. According to the obtained results, a compensatory expression was observed only in the atucp3 background, in which the AtUCP1 and AtUCP2 genes were induced both in normal physiological conditions and under salt and osmotic stresses

A maioria das proteínas organelares são codificadas pelo núcleo, sintetizadas no citosol e direcionadas especificamente ao seu destino final. O direcionamento aos diferentes subcompartimentos subcelulares é feito por uma complexa e ampla maquinaria que envolve sequências de direcionamento, proteínas citossólicas e receptores organelares específicos. Entretanto, relativamente pouco se conhece sobre o processo na qual uma proteína recém sintetizada é transportada ao seu destino final. Parte significativa das proteínas destinadas às organelas possui a informação necessária ao seu transporte localizada na extremidade N-terminal. Vários estudos têm buscado caracterizar as etapas que envolvem a localização de uma proteína, desde os estágios iniciais após a sua síntese até os fatores que regulam o seu correto endereçamento. Modificações pós-traducionais, regiões 5-UTR, região C-terminal, transporte por vias alternativas e interações proteína-proteína podem agir na localização subcelular de proteínas. O estudo de redes biomoleculares se tornou um dos focos de estudo da biologia de sistemas e demonstra um enorme potencial na descoberta de diversos processos biológicos, como as interações proteína-proteína. As proteínas que possuem duplo direcionamento (DD) em Arabidopsis thaliana foram analisadas em redes de interação proteína-proteína (PPI) e proteínas que interagem com proteínas de DD foram escolhidas quanto a função e localização para a verificação de um eventual papel dessas proteínas na localização subcelular de outras proteínas. Para tanto, foram realizadas varreduras em ensaios de duplo-híbrido em levedura para os genes de GRF9 (14-3-3) e ATH7 (tiorredoxina tipo h). Os resultados para GRF9 incluem as proteínas peroxidase PRXR1 e dihidrolipoamida acetiltransferase. Já os resultados para ATH7 mostram a interação com glutamina sintetase (AT5G35630.3). A combinação dos estudos in silico com a varredura via duplo-híbrido de levedura abrem novas perspectivas no entendimento do controle da localização subcelular de proteínas. / Most organellar proteins are nuclear encoded, synthesized in the cytosol and then targeted to their destination. Specific subcellular targeting is conducted by a complex machinery for the specific localization of the proteins, which includes targeting sequences, cytosolic proteins and specific organelar receptors. However, little is known about the process that happens from the synthesis of a protein and the transport to its final destination. Most organellar proteins contain the information for their localization in the N-terminal sequence. Many studies have searched to characterize the steps involved in protein targeting, from the early stages after its synthesis to the cytosolic factors regulating its correct localization. Post-translational modifications, 5-UTR regions, the C-terminal extension on the protein, alternative transport pathways and proteinprotein interactions may influence the subcellular location of some proteins. The use of biomolecular netwoks has become one of the main focus of systems biology studies and possess a major potential in the discovery of several biological processes, such as protein-protein interactions (PPI). Dual-targeted (DT) proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana were analyzed through a PPI network, and the proteins displaying interactions with DT proteins were selected by their funtion and location. The selected proteins were analyzed for their eventual role in the subcellular targeting of other proteins. Screenings in yeast two-hibrid assays were performed for the genes GRF9 (14-3-3) and ATH7 (h-type thioredoxin). The results for GRF9 include a peroxidase (PRXR1) and dihydrolipamide acetyltransferase. The results for ATH7 include glutamine synthetase (AT5G35630.3). Combination of in silico analysis with yeast two-hibrid screenings provide new perspectives for understanding the control of subcellular localization.

Orientador: Ione Salgado / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T17:34:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Frungillo_Lucas_M.pdf: 2003193 bytes, checksum: 004553c47da2f38ee16eaf4e64b34cda (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Embora o radical óxido nítrico (NO) seja um importante sinalizador em plantas, pouco se conhece sobre os mecanismos que controlam sua homeostase na célula. Acreditase que a enzima S-nitrosoglutationa redutase (GSNOR) tenha um papel relevante no metabolismo de S-nitrosotióis (SNO), e consequentemente na homeostase do NO, através do catabolismo da S-nitrosoglutationa (GSNO). Apesar de a mitocôndria ser um importante alvo do NO, o papel da GSNOR na funcionalidade de mitocôndrias vegetais ainda não foi descrito. Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar mitocôndrias isoladas a partir de cultura celular liquida de Arabidopsis thaliana transgênicas com maior (L1) e menor (L5) expressão da GSNOR em relação ao tipo selvagem. O conteúdo de S-nitrosotióis e peróxido de hidrogênio e a emissão de NO, determinados espectrofotometricamente e fluorimetricamente com DAF-2, respectivamente, foram comparados entre células nas fases de crescimento linear (5 dias de cultivo) e estacionária (10 dias de cultivo; estresse nutricional). O consumo de oxigênio e a degradação de NO por mitocôndrias isoladas nas diferentes fases de cultivo celular foram determinados com eletrodos específicos. Na fase linear o L1 apresentou menor (81%) e o L5 maior (162%) conteúdo de S-nitrosotióis, em relação ao tipo selvagem. Na fase estacionária o conteúdo de S-nitrosotióis foi reduzido e o padrão foi invertido. A emissão de NO pelas células após 5 dias de cultivo foi maior no L5 e não diferiu estatisticamente entre o L1 e o selvagem. Após 10 dias de cultivo os três genótipos apresentaram incremento na emissão de NO, porém o L5 apresentou menor emissão que os outros genótipos. Após 5 dias de cultivo microcalos dos transgênicos L1 e L5 apresentaram menor conteúdo de peróxido de hidrogênio que o tipo selvagem. Porém, em uma condição de estresse nutricional o conteúdo de peróxido de hidrogênio foi estatisticamente igual para todos os genótipos. Ensaios com mitocôndrias isoladas mostraram que o transgênico L1 foi o único incapaz de aumentar a atividade da oxidase alternativa (AOX) e teve as atividades do complexo I e da NADH desidrogenase externa inibidas na situação de estresse. O L5 apresentou maior atividade da NADH desidrogenase externa de modo constitutivo e da proteína desacopladora (UCP) no décimo dia. Ainda, na situação de estresse a capacidade de degradação de NO foi aumentada nos transgênicos L1 e L5. Entretanto, o L5 apresentou maior resistência à inibição da respiração provocada pelo NO, provavelmente devido a maior atividade da AOX. O conjunto dos resultados sugere um importante papel da GSNOR em controlar as alterações funcionais de mitocôndrias de A. thaliana mediadas por NO / Abstract: Although the radical nitric oxide (NO) is an important sign in plants, little is known about the mechanisms that control it's homeostasis in cell. It is believed that the enzyme Snitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) has an important role in the metabolism of Snitrosothiols (SNO), and consequently of NO homeostasis through catabolism of Snitrosoglutathione (GSNO). Although mitochondria are an important target of NO, the role of GSNOR on plant mitochondria functionality has not been described yet. This study aimed to characterize mitochondria isolated from liquid cell culture of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana with higher (L1) and lower (L5) GSNOR expression relative to wild type. The content of S-nitrosothiols and hydrogen peroxide and the NO emissions, determined spectrophotometrically and fluorimetric with DAF-2, respectively, were compared between cells in the linear (5 days culture) and stationary (10 days culture, nutritional stress) growth phases. Oxygen uptake and NO degradation by mitochondria isolated at different stages of cell culture were determined with specific electrodes. In the linear phase L1 showed lower (81%) and L5 increased (162%) content of S-nitrosothiols compared to wild type. At stationary phase S-nitrosothiols contents has been reduced and the pattern was reversed. The emission of NO by the cells after 5 days of culture was higher in L5 and do not statistically different between the L1 and wild type. At 10 days culture the genotypes showed an increase in the NO emission, but L5 showed lower emissions than the other genotypes. At 5 culture transgenic lines L1 and L5 showed a lower content of hydrogen peroxide than the wild type. However, in a condition of nutritional stress, the content of hydrogen peroxide was statistically the same for all genotypes. Tests with isolated mitochondria showed that transgenic L1 was the only one unable to increase the activity of alternative oxidase (AOX) and had the activities of complex I and NADH dehydrogenase at stress. The L5 showed a constitutive higher activity of the external NADH dehydrogenase and uncoupling protein (UCP) activity at the tenth day. Furthermore, NO degradation capability by mitochondria at nutritional stress situation of NO was increased in transgenic L1 and L5. However, L5 mitochondria showed greater resistance to respiration inhibition caused by NO, probably due to increased activity of AOX. The overall results suggest an important GSNOR role in controlling the mitochondria functional changes of A. thaliana mediated by NO / Mestrado / Bioquimica / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Transkription mitochondrialer Gene durch die kernkodierten Phagentyp-RNA-Polymerasen RpoTm und RpoTmp der Pflanze Arabidopsis untersucht. Im Mitochondriengenom von Arabidopsis wurden f r 12 Gene Promotoren bestimmt. Diese zeigten verschiedene Sequenzelemente und wichen meist von der f r Dikotyle publizierten Konsensussequenz ab. F r die Mehrheit der Gene wurden multiple Promotoren identifiziert. Es wurden weiterhin Promotoren nachgewiesen, welche die Transkription vermutlich nicht funktioneller Sequenzen aktivieren. Architektur, Lokalisation und Nutzung mitochondrialer Promotoren implizieren eine wenig stringente Kontrolle der Transkriptionsinitiation in Arabidopsis-Mitochondrien. Zur Analyse der Funktionen von RpoTm und RpoTmp wurde ein in vitro-Transkriptionssystem entwickelt. Da RpoT-Enzyme m”glicherweise Kofaktoren ben”tigen, wurde in Arabidopsis nach Genen potentieller mitochondrialer Transkriptionsfaktoren gesucht. Als mitochondriales Protein mit Žhnlichkeit zu mtTFB, einem essentiellen Transkriptionsfaktor in Hefemitochondrien, wurde MetA identifiziert. In in vitro-Assays initiierte RpoTm an verschiedenen Promotoren die Transkription, w„hrend RpoTmp keine signifikante Promotorspezifit„t zeigte. Die spezifische Promotornutzung durch RpoTm erforderte superhelikale DNA. Weder RpoTm noch RpoTmp wurde durch MetA stimuliert. Eine mtTFB-„hnliche Funktion von MetA ist daher unwahrscheinlich. F r MetA wurde ausserdem eine engere phylogenetische Beziehung zu nukle„ren rRNA-Dimethylasen als zu mtTFB ermittelt. Die hier vorgestellten Studien belegen die Transkription mitochondrialer Gene in Arabidopsis durch RpoTm; f r RpoTmp ist eine nicht-redundante Transkriptionsfunktion denkbar. Die Kofaktor-unabh„ngige Spezifit„t von RpoTm f r verschiedene Promotoren und die wenig stringente Initiationskontrolle in vivo legen nahe, dass eine individuelle Regulation mitochondrialer Gene in Arabidopsis auf Transkriptionsebene nicht erfolgt. / Mitochondria depend on a nucleus-encoded transcription machinery to express their genome. The present study examined the transcription of mitochondrial genes by two nucleus-encoded phage-type RNA polymerases, RpoTm and RpoTmp, in the plant Arabidopsis. For selected mitochondrial genes in Arabidopsis, transcription initiation sites were determined. Most genes were found to possess multiple promoters. The identified promoters displayed diverse sequence elements and mostly deviated from a nonanucleotide consensus derived previously for dicot mitochondrial promoters. Several promoters were detected that activate transcription of presumably non-functional sequences. Promoter architecture, distribution and utilization suggest a non-stringent control of transcription initiation in Arabidopsis mitochondria. An in vitro transcription system was set up to elucidate the roles of RpoTm and RpoTmp. Since RpoT enzymes possibly require auxiliary factors, the Arabidopsis genome was screened for potential cofactors of phage-type RNA polymerases. A mitochondrial protein (MetA) with similarity to mtTFB, an essential transcription factor in yeast mitochondria, was identified. In in vitro transcription studies, RpoTm recognized various promoters whereas RpoTmp displayed no significant promoter specificity. Promoter recognition by RpoTm depended on supercoiled DNA templates. Transcription initiation by RpoTm or RpoTmp was not affected by MetA, indicating that MetA is not functionally equivalent to mtTFB. Besides, MetA was found to be more closely related to non-mitochondrial rRNA dimethylases than to mtTFB. The present study establishes RpoTm to transcribe mitochondrial genes; RpoTmp may have a non-overlapping transcriptional role in mitochondria. The cofactor-independent promoter specificity of RpoTm and the apparently non-stringent control of transcription initiation in vivo imply that mitochondrial genes in Arabidopsis may not be regulated individually at the transcriptional level.

L'ADN mitochondrial des plantes est dynamique et son expression est complexe. Par la voie naturelle d'import d'ARN de transfert codés par le noyau, nous avons adressé dans les mitochondries d'Arabidopsis l'ARN orf77 caractéristique de la S-CMS du maïs et nous avons analysé les effets sur le transcriptome mitochondrial. Celui-ci s'est avéré strictement régulé durant le développement et fortement tamponné aux stades précoces. L'adressage mitochondrial de l'orf77 a aussi promu un cross-talk avec le noyau. D'autre part, la réplication et la réparation de l'ADN dans les mitochondries de plante impliquent une recombinaison active contrôlée par des facteurs codés par le noyau. Nous avons identifié l'exonucléase 5'-3' potentiellement responsable de la résection des extrémités de l'ADN dans la réparation par recombinaison des cassures double-brin. Nos résultats ouvrent des perspectives pour la génération de diversité génétique mitochondriale et la création de lignées CMS d'intérêt agronomique. / The mitochondrial DNA of plants is dynamic and its expression is complex. Using a strategy based on the natural import of nuclear-encoded transfer RNAs from the cytosol, we targeted to mitochondria in Arabidopsis thaliana the orf77 RNA characteristic for S-CMS in maize and we analyzed the effects on the transcriptome. The results showed that the mitochondrial transcriptome is tighly regulated during plant development and is strongly buffered at early stages. Mitochondrial targeting of orf77 also triggered a cross-talk with the nucleus. On the other hand, DNA replication and repair in plant mitochondria involve active recombination controled by nuclear-encoded factors. We identified a new member of this set of factors, the 5'-3' exonuclease potentially responsible for the resection of DNA ends in recombination-mediated repair of double-strand breaks. As a whole, the results open prospects for generating mitochondrial genetic diversity and creating CMS lines with agronomical interest.