Plastid division regulation and interactions with the environment

Abstract

Plastids are vital organelles, fulfilling important metabolic functions that greatly affect plant growth and productivity. As such it is rational that the process of plastid division is carefully controlled, not only to ensure persistence in dividing plant cells and that optimal numbers of plastids are obtained in specialised cell types, but also in response to environmental changes. How this control is exerted by the host nucleus is unclear. Through evolution the plastid division machinery has retained homologues of key proteins of bacterial division apparatus, and also incorporated new proteins of eukaryotic origin. The evolution of this complex process raises intriguing questions as to how the division process has been placed under the control of the host cell. Here we explore the current understanding of the process of plastid division at the molecular and cellular level, with particular respect to the response of plastid division to environmental signals and endogenous cues. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.