The 2 main themes running through the book are the interconnection between gene regulation and protein function, and the integration of mitochondria with other components of plant cells. The book begins with an overview of the dynamics of mitochondrial structure, morphology and inheritance. It then discusses the biogenesis of mitochondria, the regulation of gene expression, the mitochondrial genome and its interaction with the nucleus, and the targeting of proteins to the organelle. Also covered are the pathways of electron transport, with special attention to the non phosphorylating bypasses, metabolite transport, and specialized mitochondrial metabolism. Finally, the impact of oxidative stress on mitochondria and the defense mechanisms, that are employed to allow survival, are discussed.
From the reviews: "Plant Mitochondria, meets the standard expected for a book from Springer. It is printed on coated paper and includes eight color plates. The figure quality, including the half-tone figures, is high, and the type is crisp and easy to read. ! As such, I can easily recommend ! ." (J. M. Cheeseman, Photosynthesis Research, Issue 94, 2007)