New insights into dynamic actin-based chloroplast photorelocation movement

Abstract

Chloroplast movement is essential for plants to survive under various environmental light conditions. Phototropins - plant-specific blue-light-activated receptor kinases - mediate the response by perceiving light intensity and direction. Recently, novel chloroplast actin (cp-actin) filaments have been identified as playing a pivotal role in the directional chloroplast photorelocation movement. Encouraging progress has recently been made in this field of research through molecular genetics and cell biological analyses. This review describes factors that have been identified as being involved in chloroplast movement and their roles in the regulation of cp-actin filaments, thus providing a basis for reflection on their biochemical activities and functions. © 2011 The Author.