engleski

Dissecting chloroplast regulatory pathways

Thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts catlyze the fundamental process of photosynthetic energy conversion. The dual genetic origin and the enormous physiological versatility, in particular its ability to manage short- and long-term changes in the light environment, are outstanding characteristics of this specialized biomembrane. various mechanisms can regulate the distribution of excitation energy between the two photosystems, and others can convert excess excitation energy into thermal energy. furthermore, a regulated protein turnover can re-establish function once photodamage has occured, or aclimatize the photosynthetic machinery to seasonal changes. A significant number of auxiliary enzymes are believed to be involved in these physiological processes. These include, for instance, protein kinases and phosphatases, chaperones, a substantial number of proteases that catalyze regulated protein degradation and various other protein components that are required during biogenesis of the photosyntheteic multisubunit complexes. The identification of such auxiliary components and their genes, and in particular the elucidation of the signal transduction mechanisms connecting light with physisological responses are central and developing topics of our current research.

phosphorylation; rhodeanese; evolution

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