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Anna Stengel, Jrgen Soll, Bettina Blter
Protein import into chloroplasts: new aspects of a well known topic
Keywords: chloroplasts, protein import, redox mechanisms, regulation, Tic, Toc
Protein import into plant chloroplasts is a fascinating topic which is investigated by many research groups. Since the majority of chloroplast proteins are synthesized as precursor proteins in the cytosol, they have to be posttranslationally imported into the organelle. For this purpose, most preproteins are synthesized with an N-terminal presequence, which is both necessary and sufficient for organelle recognition and translocation initiation. The import of preproteins is facilitated by two translocation machineries in the outer and inner envelope of chloroplasts, the Toc and Tic complex, respectively. Translocation of precursor proteins across the envelope membrane has to be highly regulated to react to the metabolic requirements of the organelle. The aim of this minireview is to summarise the so far known events that take place at the translocation machineries. In addition, we focus particularly on alternative import pathways and the aspect of regulation of protein transport at the outer and inner envelope membrane.
Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 2007
Pages: -