Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Department of Plant Physiology

Chloroplast Biogenesis - Assembly of Chlorophyll into Chlorophyll-binding Proteins

Peng Wang, Daniel Hey, Josephine Herbst, Maxi Rothbart, Andreas Richter

 

The view of free-floating proteins in the soluble or membranous phase of subcellular compartments has been replaced with a new concept based on the insights into the subcompartmental organization of metabolic pathways, including Chl biosynthesis. It is expected that the organellar topology of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis will include the formation of transient and stable complexes with specific sets of proteins. These multiprotein complexes provide a protected area of enriched, functionally and structurally interacting proteins, increase the accuracy of distinct biochemical reactions, enable substrate channeling, ensure the separation of disturbing and antagonistic pathways and prevent the release of toxic intermediates, which may cause photooxidative reactions. All in all, it is hypothesized that the high level of suborganellar organization enables a precise and adequate supply of endproducts to the sites of assembly with Chl-binding proteins of photosynthesis, but these processes are achieved by additional assembly and auxiliary factors and chaperones.

 

 

Small LHC-like proteins and their impact on chlorophyll biosynthesis and assembly of photosynthesis protein complexes

 

Light-harvesting-like 3 (LIL3) proteins in Arabidopsis

 

One-helix proteins (OHPs) in Arabidopsis

 

TPR proteins and their role in chloroplasts

 

Coordination between tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and chloroplast SRP pathway