Chloroplast signaling in plants

Abstract

Plastids are not only major centers of plant metabolism, plastids also emit signals in response to endogenous and environmental cues. Plastid signals are major regulators of nuclear gene expression. Several plastid signals are known. Plastid signals appear to regulate a complex network of signaling mechanisms. Plastid signals contribute to chloroplast biogenesis, chloroplast function, and chloroplast stress tolerance. Plastid signals contribute to extraplastidic processes such as the circadian rhythm, development, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and programmed cell death.