Enhanced frataxin expression in Arabidopsis thaliana modulates iron metabolism and improves growth under iron stress

Abstract

Frataxin plays a crucial role in iron homeostasis, Fe-S cluster, and heme biogenesis. This study investigated the impact of constitutive AtFH overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana. The results demonstrated significant alterations in Fe-S protein activity, iron distribution, and the expression of genes associated with iron transport, Fe-S cluster assembly, and iron storage. Notably, AtFH-overexpressing plants displayed enhanced growth, with increased rosette area and improved root development, under both iron-deficient and iron-excess conditions. While these findings provide valuable insights into the regulatory potential of frataxin in optimizing plant iron homeostasis, they also highlight the need for tissue-specific and stress-inducible approaches to fully evaluate its application in crop resilience.