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PubMed1976

Cytochrome b-563 redox changes in intact CO-fixing spinach chloroplasts and in developing pea chloroplasts.

Intact spinach chloroplasts, capable of high rates of photochemical oxygen evolution with CO2 as electron acceptor (120-350 mumol O2 mg chlorophyll-1 h-1) were examined for cytochrome redox changes. The response of the cytochromes in intact chloroplasts to oxidants and reductants appears to be governed by the permeability of the chloroplast envelope. The low potential cytochromes (b-559LP and b-563) were more slowly reduced at 25 degrees C by dithionite than is the case with broken chloroplasts. At 0 degrees C, the reduction of the low potential cytochromes in intactchloroplasts was extremely slow. The chloroplast envelope is impermeable to ferricyanide, slowly permeable to ascorbate and rapidly permeable to reduced dichlorophenolindophenol. Light-induced redox changes of cytochrome b-563 in intact chloroplasts were examined both at 0 degrees and 25 degrees C. A red/far-red antagonism on the redox changes of cytochrome b-563 was observed at 0 degrees C under anaerobic conditions. 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethlyurea (DCMU) inhibited the photoreduction of cytochrome b-563 in red light following far-red illumination. The photooxidation of cytochrome b-563 under anaerobic conditions was not influenced by DCMU or 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB). The photoreduction of cytochrome b-563 under aerobic conditions was much less efficient than its photooxidation under anaerobic conditions. Developing pea chloroplasts showed much greater light-induced redox changes of cytochrome b-563 than did intact spinach chloroplasts. Our data are consistent with the view that cytochrome b-563 functions on a cyclic pathway around Photosystem I, but it appears that cyclic flow is sensitive to the relative poising of the redox levels of cytochrome b-563 and the components of the non-cylic pathway.

Aging↗
PubMed1976

Hybridization of bean chloroplast transfer RNAs to chloroplast DNA.

Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) chloroplast tRNAsLeu and tRNAsPhe hybridize to chloroplast DNA, whereas the corresponding cytoplasmic tRNA species do not, suggesting that chloroplast transfer RNAs are coded for by chloroplast DNA. The hybridization of the three chloroplast tRNAsLeu or of the two tRNAsPhe isoacceptors is not additive, and the isoacceptors compete with each other in the hybridization to chloroplast DNA, suggesting that these isoacceptors are coded for by the same gene(s) and differ only in the extent of post-transcriptional modification. Although hererologous aminoacylation reactions and comparisons of base composition suggest a resemblance between chloroplast and procaryotic tRNAs, only a slight cross hybridization reaction was observed between chloroplast and Escherichia coli leucyl- or phenylalanyl-tRNAs and DNAs.

Chloroplasts↗
PubMed1977

Expression of the chloroplast ribosomal RNA genes of Euglena gracilis during chloroplast development.

The cellular content and transcription program of the chloroplast ribosomal RNA genes of Euglena gracilis Z have been determined during the light-induced development of chloroplasts by hybridization of total cell DNA or RNA to purified 3H-labeled chloroplast ribosomal DNA ([3H]ctrDNA). Pancreatic DNase activated, partially purified chloroplast rDNA was enzymatically labeled in vitro by E. coli DNA polymerase I with [3H]TTP as a substrate. The [3H] DNA was denatured and hybridized with a vast excess of purified chloroplast 16 and 23S rRNA. The rRNA-[3H]ct rCNA hybrid was isolated by chromatography on hydroxylapatite. The [3H]ct rDNA was purified and characterized by the kinetics of its renaturation with chloroplast DNA and rRNA, and by the thermal stability of [3H]DNA-DNA and [3H]DNA-RNA hybrids. [3H]ct rDNA was hybridized in trace amounts to cellular RNA or DNA isolated from Euglena cells 0,4,8,12,24,48, and 72 h after the onset of chloroplast development. From a comparison of the kinetics of hybridization with hybridization of standards of known kinetic complexity quantitative estimates of the cellular rRNA and rDNA gene content were made. Chloroplast rRNA increases from 2 to 26% of the cellular RNA during development, while the percentage of cellular DNA represented by ct rDNA increases two- to threefold. Correcting for the change in cellular RNA and DNA content during development, the number of copies of the rRNA gene increases less than twofold, while the number of copies of rRNA per cell increases sixfold. The results are consistent with either a transcriptional activation of the ribosomal genes or an increased rRNA stability during developmental.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Isolated plant mitochondria import chloroplast precursor proteins in vitro with the same efficiency as chloroplasts.

Most chloroplast and mitochondrial proteins are synthesized with N-terminal presequences that direct their import into the appropriate organelle. In this report we have analyzed the specificity of standard in vitro assays for import into isolated pea chloroplasts and mitochondria. We find that chloroplast protein import is highly specific because mitochondrial proteins are not imported to any detectable levels. Surprisingly, however, pea mitochondria import a range of chloroplast protein precursors with the same efficiency as chloroplasts, including those of plastocyanin, the 33-kDa photosystem II protein, Hcf136, and coproporphyrinogen III oxidase. These import reactions are dependent on the Deltaphi across the inner mitochondrial membrane, and furthermore, marker enzyme assays and Western blotting studies exclude any import by contaminating chloroplasts in the preparation. The pea mitochondria specifically recognize information in the chloroplast-targeting presequences, because they also import a fusion comprising the presequence of coproporphyrinogen III oxidase linked to green fluorescent protein. However, the same construct is targeted exclusively into chloroplasts in vivo indicating that the in vitro mitochondrial import reactions are unphysiological, possibly because essential specificity factors are absent in these assays. Finally, we show that disruption of potential amphipathic helices in one presequence does not block import into pea mitochondria, indicating that other features are recognized.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗
PubMed2003

Effect of photooxidative destruction of chloroplasts on the expression of nuclear genes for C4 photosynthesis and for chloroplast biogenesis in maize.

Norflurazon, an inhibitor of carotenoid synthesis, is known to cause photooxidative destruction of chloroplasts. Expression of many nuclear genes for chloroplast-destined proteins is suppressed in the photobleached seedings due to impairment of signaling from chloroplasts to nuclei. Here the effect of norflurazon-treatment on the expression of genes for C4 photosynthesis was investigated. Unlike the genes of Cab and RbcS, the levels of mRNA for pyruvate Pi dikinase and NADP-malic enzyme were not markedly reduced. However, their protein levels were more significantly reduced suggesting a control by chloroplast exerted at the translational step. From their molecular sizes these proteins seemed to have been correctly processed and hence localized in the rudimental chloroplasts. In support of this, 9 kinds of proteins for chloroplast biogenesis such as Toc family and Hsp 70 proteins were not suppressed, suggesting that protein import machinery and processing are still functional in the cells harboring rudimental chloroplasts. Diurnal changes of the levels of transcripts for photosynthetic genes persisted in the norflurazon-treated seedlings indicating non-involvement of chloroplast in this light control.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed2003

Bundle sheath chloroplasts of rice are more sensitive to drought stress than mesophyll chloroplasts.

We investigated the effects of drought stress on the ultrastructure of chloroplasts in rice plants. After the seedlings were grown in a glasshouse for 1 month, they were treated for drought stress using two methods. One drought treatment was imposed by reducing the water supply to the plants for 1 month. The other was imposed by withholding water for 2 weeks to examine the withering process of leaves by drought stress. The ultrastructural changes of chloroplasts in bundle sheath cells were more prominent than those in mesophyll cells under both drought stress treatments. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) content in bundle sheath chloroplasts reduced more dramatically than in mesophyll chloroplasts by drought stress. Although a slight swelling of thylakoids was sometimes observed in bundle sheath chloroplasts in moderate stress for 1 month, the thylakoids were less affected by drought stress than chloroplast envelope. These results suggest that chloroplasts in bundle sheath cells were more sensitive to drought stress than those in mesophyll cells and the thylakoids were less damaged by drought stress compared with chloroplast envelope.

Chloroplasts↗
PubMed1990

The chloroplast import receptor is an integral membrane protein of chloroplast envelope contact sites.

A chloroplast import receptor from pea, previously identified by antiidiotypic antibodies was purified and its primary structure deduced from its cDNA sequence. The protein is a 36-kD integral membrane protein (p36) with eight potential transmembrane segments. Fab prepared from monospecific anti-p36 IgG inhibits the import of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit precursor (pS) by interfering with pS binding at the chloroplast surface. Anti-p36 IgGs are able to immunoprecipitate a Triton X-100 soluble p36-pS complex, suggesting a direct interaction between p36 and pS. This immunoprecipitation was specific as it was abolished by a pS synthetic transit peptide, consistent with the transit sequence receptor function of p36. Immunoelectron microscopy localized p36 to regions of the outer chloroplast membrane that are in close contact with the inner chloroplast membrane. Comparison of the deduced sequence of pea p36 to that of other known proteins indicates a striking homology to a protein from spinach chloroplasts that was previously suggested to be the triose phosphate-3-phosphoglycerate-phosphate translocator (phosphate translocator) (Flügge, U. I., K. Fischer, A. Gross, W. Sebald, F. Lottspeich, and C. Eckerskorn. 1989. EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 8:39-46). However, incubation of Triton X-100 solubilized chloroplast envelope material with hydroxylapatite indicated that p36 was quantitatively absorbed, whereas previous reports have shown that phosphate translocator activity does not bind to hydroxylapatite (Flügge, U. I., and H. W. Heldt. 1981. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 638:296-304. These data, in addition to the topology and import inhibition data presented in this report support the assignment of p36 as a receptor for chloroplast protein import, and argue against the assignment of the spinach homologue of this protein as the chloroplast phosphate translocator.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

An Arabidopsis chloroplast-targeted Hsp101 homologue, APG6, has an essential role in chloroplast development as well as heat-stress response.

Analysis of albino or pale-green (apg) mutants is important for identifying nuclear genes responsible for chloroplast development and pigment synthesis. We have identified 38 apg mutants by screening 11 000 Arabidopsis Ds-tagged lines. One mutant, apg6, contains a Ds insertion in a gene encoding APG6 (ClpB3), a homologue of the heat-shock protein Hsp101 (ClpB1). We isolated somatic revertants and identified two Ds-tagged and one T-DNA-tagged mutant alleles of apg6. All three alleles gave the same pale-green phenotype. These results suggest that APG6 is important for chloroplast development. The APG6 protein contains a transit peptide and is localized in chloroplasts. The plastids of apg6 pale-green cells were smaller than those of the wild type, and contained undeveloped thylakoid membranes. APG6 mRNA accumulated in response to heat shock in various organs, but not in response to other abiotic stresses. Under normal conditions, APG6 is constitutively expressed in the root tips, the organ boundary region, the reproductive tissues of mature plants where plastids exist as proplastids, and slightly in the stems and leaves. In addition, constitutive overexpression of APG6 in transgenic plants inhibited chloroplast development and resulted in a mild pale-green phenotype. The amounts of chloroplast proteins related to photosynthesis were markedly decreased in apg6 mutants. These results suggest that APG6 functions as a molecular chaperone involved in plastid differentiation mediating internal thylakoid membrane formation and conferring thermotolerance to chloroplasts during heat stress. The APG6 protein is not only involved in heat-stress response in chloroplasts, but is also essential for chloroplast development.

Alleles↗
PubMed1974

Chloroplast and cytoplasmic ribosomes of Euglena: selective binding of dihydrostreptomycin to chloroplast ribosomes.

Dihydrostreptomycin binds preferentially to chloroplast ribosomes of wild-type Euglena gracilis Klebs var. bacillaris Pringsheim. The K(diss) for the wild-type chloroplast ribosome-dihydrostreptomycin complex is 2 x 10(-7) M, a value comparable with that found for the Escherichia coli ribosome-dihydrostreptomycin complex. Chloroplast ribosomes isolated from the streptomycin-resistant mutant Sm(1) (r)BNgL and cytoplasmic ribosomes from wild-type have a much lower affinity for the antibiotic. The K(diss) for the chloroplast ribosome-dihydrostreptomycin complex of Sm(1) (r) is 387 x 10(-7) M, and the value for the cytoplasmic ribosome-dihydrostreptomycin complex of the wild type is 1,400 x 10(-7) M. Streptomycin competes with dihydrostreptomycin for the chloroplast ribosome binding site, and preincubation of streptomycin with hydroxylamine prevents the binding of streptomycin to the chloroplast ribosome. These results indicate that the inhibition of chloroplast development and replication in Euglena by streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin is related to the specific inhibition of protein synthesis on the chloroplast ribosomes of Euglena.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1983

Transmission of chloroplast genes in triploid and tetraploid zygospores of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Roles of mating-type gene dosage and gametic chloroplast DNA content.

Diploid clones homozygous (mt(+)/mt(+) or mt(-)/mt(-)) or heterozygous (mt(+)/mt(-); phenotypically mt(-)) for the mating-type locus and homoplasmic for a chloroplast marker conferring resistance to an antibiotic were isolated by artificially induced cell fusion or sexual mating. These diploids were crossed with haploid or diploid strains of opposite mating type and carrying another chloroplast marker. The transmission of the chloroplast genes was analyzed in the triploid and tetraploid zygospores in comparison with diploid zygospores used as controls. The transmission was almost exclusively maternal (mt(+)) (>94%) in the crosses mt(+) x mt(-), mt(+)/mt(+) x mt(-), and mt(+)/mt(+) x mt(-)/mt(-). The transmission was preferentially maternal (>76%) in the crosses mt(+) x mt(-)/mt(-) whereas in the crosses mt(+) x mt(+)/mt(-), <50% of the zygospores transmitted the chloroplast allele of maternal (mt(+)) origin. The zygospores produced in crosses mt(+)/mt(+) x mt(+)/mt(-) transmitted the alleles from both parents in >60% of cases. The results show that (i) the presence of one mt(+) allele in the mt(+)/mt(-) (phenotypically mt(-)) diploid gametes and (ii) the higher amount of chloroplast DNA molecules (input) present in the diploid gametes versus the haploid ones favor the transmission of the chloroplast allele contributed by these gametes. Moreover, because the zygospores issued from crosses mt(+)/mt(+) x mt(-) and mt(+) x mt(+)/mt(-) were genotypically identical mt(+)/mt(+)/mt(-)) but behaved very differently in their chloroplast gene transmission, it was concluded that the molecular events leading to preferential elimination of paternal DNA copies must occur before the fusion of nuclei or chloroplasts in the newly formed zygotes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1981

Gel Electrophoresis of Chloroplast Polypeptides: Comparison of One-Dimensional and Two-Dimensional Gel Analyses of Chloroplast Polypeptides From Euglena gracilis.

Euglena chloroplast polypeptides are resolved by an adaptation of the two-dimensional gel electrophoretic technique of O'Farrell (1975 J Biol Chem 250: 4007-4021). The present results are compared with those obtained by our earlier two-dimensional gel analyses as well as those obtained by one-dimensional gel analyses. Up to 75 micrograms of Euglena chloroplast polypeptides are resolved on one-dimensional sodium dodecylsulfate linear gradient 7.5 to 15% polyacrylamide gels into 43 stained polypeptide bands compared to only 33 bands resolved on a similar gel containing only 10% polyacrylamide. In contrast, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (isoelectric focusing for the first dimension, sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis for the second dimension) further improves the resolution of the chloroplast polypeptides and especially so when a linear gradient gel is used for the second dimension. Delipidation of Euglena chloroplasts with acetone-ether and subsequent solubilization of polypeptides with Triton X-100 followed by sonication are all necessary for successful resolution of chloroplast polypeptides on two-dimensional gels. Up to 300 micrograms of chloroplast polypeptides can be clearly resolved into 56 to 59 stainable spots by the present two-dimensional gel technique when a linear gradient gel is used for the second dimension. Thus, about 30% of the polypeptide bands on a one-dimensional gel are separated into multiple polypeptides on a two-dimensional gel. The use of two-dimensional gels to separate labeled polypeptides with subsequent detection of labeled spots by autoradiography or fluorography again improves the resolution of the chloroplast polypeptides. For example, when (35)S-labeled chloroplast polypeptides are separated by the present two-dimensional gel technique with a linear gradient polyacrylamide gel in the second dimension, autoradiography or fluorography detects over 80 individual polypeptide spots. This is about twice the number resolved by our previous analyses which used a 10% polyacrylamide gel in the second dimension. Polypeptides detected range in molecular weight from about 8.5 to about 145 kilodaltons with apparent isoelectric points from pH 4.5 to 8.0. Fluorography provides rapid detection of labeled polypeptides and is 10 times more sensitive than autoradiography.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Editing of the chloroplast rpoB transcript is independent of chloroplast translation and shows different patterns in barley and maize.

Sequence analysis of amplified cDNAs derived from the maize chloroplast rpoB transcript which encodes the beta subunit of a chloroplast specific, DNA dependent RNA polymerase reveals four C-to-U editing sites clustered within 150 nucleotides of the 5' terminal region of the rpoB message. These newly identified editing sites confirm the bias of chloroplast editing for certain codon transitions and for second codon positions which both appear suggestive for an involvement of the translational apparatus in the editing process. This supposition prompted us to investigate editing of the rpoB transcript from ribosome deficient, and hence protein synthesis deficient, plastids of the barley mutant albostrians. In this mutant editing is, however, not impaired at any of the editing sites functional in the barley wild type rpoB transcript. This demonstrates that chloroplast editing is neither linked to nor dependent on the chloroplast translational apparatus. As a further consequence any peptide components required for chloroplast editing must be encoded in the nuclear genome. In spite of strong sequence conservation only three of the four editing sites identified in the maize rpoB transcript are functional in barley. This indicates that sequences surrounding an editing site alone are not sufficient as determinants for the editing process in chloroplasts, but that trans-acting templates carrying the editing information for each individual site may also be required.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

The genes encoding chloroplast ribosomal proteins S7 and S12 are located in the inverted repeat of Spirodela oligorhiza chloroplast DNA.

We have used a variety of methods to localize the genes for ribosomal proteins S7 and S12 on Spirodela chloroplast DNA. Heterologous hybridization with a rps12 gene specific probe from Euglena has revealed the presence of rps12 homologous sequences within the inverted repeat of Spirodela chloroplast DNA on the fragment BamHI-V. In the partial nucleotide sequence of this fragment, two regions of amino acid sequence homology to Euglena S12 can be identified, separated from each other by a 542 bp intron with conserved boundary sequences. As was found for Nicotiana S12, the Spirodela S12 coding regions are for 85 amino acids homologous (79%) to E. coli S12 (starting from residue 38 to the C-terminus). Likewise, we are unable to identify the 37 5' terminal codons of rps12 in Spirodela. The functionality of the Spirodela rps12 sequence is discussed. The rps7 gene is located adjacent to rps12. Chloroplast ribosomal protein C-S11 (homologous to S7) has been detected by immunoprecipitation with both a polyspecific anti 30S serum and an anti C-S11 serum, among the in vitro translation products of mRNAs selected by Spirodela chloroplast DNA fragments BamHI-V and BamHI-P. Since in a DNA dependent E. coli cell free system, only BamHI-V appears to be capable of synthesis of C-S11, it is concluded that rps7 is located entirely within BamHI-V and is transcribed into a mRNA which extends into BamHI-P. As determined by Northern hybridization experiments, rps7 is cotranscribed with rps12; a stable transcript of approx. 1100 b is detected in total cellular Spirodela RNA with either rps12 and rps7 gene specific probes. The rps12 probe additionally detects an approx. 600 b transcript, which presumably corresponds to the excised rps12 intron RNA. Finally we have examined the expression of both rps7 and rps12 during light induced chloroplast development by Northern blotting and by immunoblotting. It is shown, that the steady-state levels of neither chloroplast ribosomal protein transcripts, nor those of the chloroplast ribosomal proteins itself, change significantly during the greening process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Extensive methylation of chloroplast DNA by a nuclear gene mutation does not affect chloroplast gene transmission in chlamydomonas.

Based on analysis by high pressure liquid chromatography, greater than 35% of the cytosine residues in chloroplast DNA of vegetative cells were found to be methylated constitutively in the nuclear gene mutation (me-1) of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which has an otherwise wild-type phenotype. Digestion of chloroplast DNA from vegetative cells and gametes of this mutant with restriction endonucleases Hpa II and Msp I reveals that in the 5'CCGG3' sequence, CpG is methylated extensively, whereas CpC is only methylated occasionally. Hae III (5'GGCC3') digestion of the mutant chloroplast DNA also shows extensive methylation of the GpC sequence. In contrast to the results of Sager and colleagues, which show a correlation between methylation of chloroplast DNA and transmission of chloroplast genes in crosses, our results with crosses of the me-1 mutant suggest that extensive chloroplast DNa methylation may be insufficient to account for the pattern of inheritance of chloroplast genes in Chlamydomonas.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed2004

An improved prediction of chloroplast proteins reveals diversities and commonalities in the chloroplast proteomes of Arabidopsis and rice.

Proteins that form part of the chloroplast proteome can be identified by computational prediction of the N-terminal presequences (chloroplast transit peptides, cTPs) of their cytoplasmic precursor proteins. The accuracy of four different cTP predictors has been evaluated on a test set of 4500 proteins whose subcellular localization is known, and was found to be substantially lower than previously reported. A combination of cTP prediction programs was superior to any one of the predictors alone. This combination was employed to estimate the size and composition of the chloroplast proteomes of Arabidopsis and rice, and about 2100 (Arabidopsis thaliana) and 4800 (Oryza sativa) different chloroplast proteins with a cTP are predicted to be encoded by their nuclear genomes. A subset of around 900 chloroplast proteins, predominantly derived from the cyanobacterial endosymbiont and with functions mostly related to metabolism, energy and transcription, is shared by the two species. This points to the existence of both conserved nucleus-encoded chloroplast proteins that are predominantly of prokaryotic origin, and a large fraction of taxon-specific chloroplast-targeted proteins, in flowering plants.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1997

Stromal concentrations of coenzyme A and its esters are insufficient to account for rates of chloroplast fatty acid synthesis: evidence for substrate channelling within the chloroplast fatty acid synthase.

Concentrations of total CoAs in chloroplasts freshly isolated from spinach and peas were 10-20 microM, assuming a stromal volume of 66 microl per mg of chlorophyll. Acetyl-CoA and CoASH constituted at least 90% of the total CoA in freshly isolated chloroplasts. For a given chloroplast preparation, the concentration of endogenous acetyl-CoA was the same when extractions were performed using HClO4, trichloroacetic acid, propan-2-ol or chloroform/methanol, and the extracts analysed by quantitative HPLC after minimal processing. During fatty acid synthesis from acetate, concentrations of CoASH within spinach and pea chloroplasts varied from less than 0.1 to 5.0 microM. Malonyl-CoA concentrations were also very low (<0.1-3.0 microM) during fatty acid synthesis but could be calculated from radioactivity incorporated from [1-14C]acetate. Concentrations of CoASH in chloroplasts synthesizing fatty acids could be doubled in the presence of Triton X-100, suggesting that the detergent stimulates fatty acid synthesis by increasing the turnover rate of acyl-CoA. However, although taken up, exogenous CoASH (1 microM) did not stimulate fatty acid synthesis by permeabilized spinach chloroplasts. Calculated rates for acetyl-CoA synthetase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and malonyl-CoA-acyl-carrier protein transacylase reactions at the concentrations of metabolites measured here are < 0.1-4% of the observed rates of fatty acid synthesis from acetate by isolated chloroplasts. The results suggest that CoA and its esters are probably confined within, and channelled through, the initial stages of a fatty acid synthase multienzyme complex.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed1998

A single gene of chloroplast origin codes for mitochondrial and chloroplastic methionyl-tRNA synthetase in Arabidopsis thaliana.

One-fifth of the tRNAs used in plant mitochondrial translation is coded for by chloroplast-derived tRNA genes. To understand how aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases have adapted to the presence of these tRNAs in mitochondria, we have cloned an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA coding for a methionyl-tRNA synthetase. This enzyme was chosen because chloroplast-like elongator tRNAMet genes have been described in several plant species, including A. thaliana. We demonstrate here that the isolated cDNA codes for both the chloroplastic and the mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS). The protein is transported into isolated chloroplasts and mitochondria and is processed to its mature form in both organelles. Transient expression assays using the green fluorescent protein demonstrated that the N-terminal region of the MetRS is sufficient to address the protein to both chloroplasts and mitochondria. Moreover, characterization of MetRS activities from mitochondria and chloroplasts of pea showed that only one MetRS activity exists in each organelle and that both are indistinguishable by their behavior on ion exchange and hydrophobic chromatographies. The high degree of sequence similarity between A. thaliana and Synechocystis MetRS strongly suggests that the A. thaliana MetRS gene described here is of chloroplast origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1970

Chloroplast structure and function in ac-20, a mutant strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. 3. Chloroplast ribosomes and membrane organization.

The fine structure of the ac-20 strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardi is described. Cells grown mixotrophically in the presence of acetate have a highly disordered chloroplast membrane organization and usually lack pyrenoids. Chloroplast ribosome levels are only 5-10% of wild-type levels. Cells grown phototrophically without acetate possess more chloroplast ribosomes and have more normal membrane and pyrenoid organization. Chloroplast ribosome levels rise rapidly when cells are transferred from acetate to minimal medium, whereas membrane reorganization occurs only after a lag. These results, combined with earlier studies of the photosynthetic properties of the mutant strain, suggest that proper membrane organization, Photosystem II activity, and ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase formation are dependent on the presence of chloroplast ribosomes. Other chloroplast components tested are unaffected by a 10-fold reduction in levels of chloroplast ribosomes.

Acetates↗