Arabidopsis mtHSC70-1 physically interacts with the Cox2 subunit of cytochrome oxidase.

The 70-kD heat shock proteins (HSP70s or HSC70s) function as molecular chaperones and are involved in diverse cellular processes. We recently demonstrated the roles of mitochondrial HSC70-1 (mtHSC70-1) in the establishment of cytochrome oxidase (COX)-dependent respiration and redox homeostasis in . Defects in COX assembly were observed in the knockout lines.

Arabidopsis mtHSC70-1 plays important roles in the establishment of COX-dependent respiration and redox homeostasis.

The 70 kDa heat shock proteins function as molecular chaperones and are involved in diverse cellular processes. However, the functions of the plant mitochondrial HSP70s (mtHSC70s) remain unclear. Severe growth defects were observed in the Arabidopsis thaliana mtHSC70-1 knockout lines, mthsc70-1a and mthsc70-1b.