The making of a chloroplast.

Full Abstract

Since its endosymbiotic beginning, the chloroplast has become fully integrated into the biology of the host eukaryotic cell. The exchange of genetic information from the chloroplast to the nucleus has resulted in considerable co-ordination in the activities of these two organelles during all stages of plant development. Here, we give an overview of the mechanisms of light perception and the subsequent regulation of nuclear gene expression in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and we cover the main events that take place when proplastids differentiate into chloroplasts. We also consider recent findings regarding signalling networks between the chloroplast and the nucleus during seedling development, and how these signals are modulated by light. In addition, we discuss the mechanisms through which chloroplasts develop in different cell types, namely cotyledons and the dimorphic chloroplasts of the C(4) plant maize. Finally, we discuss recent data that suggest the specific regulation of the light-dependent phases of photosynthesis, providing a means to optimize photosynthesis to varying light regimes.

Author information

Author/s: Waters, Mark T (MT); Langdale, Jane A (JA);

Affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK.

Grants: (Agency:Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: The EMBO journal (EMBO J), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 28 (issue 19) : pp 2861-73

Dates: Created 2009/10/07; Completed 2009/11/05;

PMID: 19745808, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/5/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.