Pexophagy in plants: a mechanism to remit cells from oxidative damage caused under high-intensity light

Light is essential for plant growth, but excessive light energy produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can seriously damage cells. Mutants defective in ATG (autophagy related) genes show light intensity-dependent leaf damage and ROS accumulation. We found that autophagy is one of the crucial systems in protecting plants from ROS-induced damage by removing oxidative peroxisomes. Damaged peroxisomes are targeted by the PtdIns3P marker and specifically engulfed by phagophores labeled by ATG18a-GFP. Under high-intensity light, huge peroxisome aggregates are induced and captured by vacuolar membranes. Research provides a deeper understanding of plant stress response to light irradiation.