Plants constantly juggle oxygen inside their cells, but scientists have now discovered a surprising twist in how that balance works. Researchers at the University of Helsinki found that mitochondria—the cell’s energy generators—can actively pull oxygen away from chloroplasts, the structures responsible for photosynthesis. This previously unknown interaction suggests mitochondria can effectively “drain” oxygen inside plant cells, altering photosynthesis and the production of reactive molecules that help plants respond to stress.
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