A Tale of Two Genomes: Role of a Chloroplast Signal in Coordinating Nuclear and Plastid Genome Expression

Abstract

Plant cells coordinately regulate the expression of nuclear and plastid genes that encode components of the photosynthetic apparatus. Nuclear genes that regulate chloroplast development and chloroplast gene expression provide part of this coordinate control. However, there is compelling evidence that information also flows in the opposite direction, from chloroplasts to the nucleus. This hypothesised, second pathway functions to coordinate the expression of nuclear genes encoding components of the photosynthetic apparatus with the functional state of the chloroplast. Here we review the evidence for the signal transduction pathway from the chloroplasts to the nucleus and suggest possible signal molecules.