In depth characterization of organelle tubulation phenomenon using plastid stromules
Final Report Abstract
Biochemical processes of plant cells require a high degree of compartmentalization. Live cell imaging of fluorescent protein labelled cell compartments revealed that organelles are very dynamic and highly flexible in their morphology. Additionally it was found that the dynamics and the morphology of organelles can change during the course of development and in response to stress. However the extent to which shape and shape changes affect the functionality of organelles and how these processes are controlled is poorly understood. One example of such a stress and development dependent organelle shape change is the formation of plastid derived stroma-filled tubules, so called stromules. In the last 20 years stromules have been intensively studied and became a model system for organelle tubulation. In recent years significant progress has been made in identifying conditions which trigger stromule formation. Together with observations made during the funding period regarding the induction of stromules during plant pathogens interactions, it becomes clear that stromule formation is a non-specific reaction rather than a response to a certain pathogen or stress. Therefore, stromules seems to be connected to a process important during many stress responses. However how such protrusions support organelle function and how they are regulated is still unclear. During my work I established the next important objectives in my study of stromules, which will be to identify specific signalling components involved in stromule regulation and the isolation of plants showing aberrant stromule phenotypes. Both will allow me to pin down physiological processes stromules are involved in and finally help us to understand their function. During the funding period key findings where made showing the potential of GV3101(pMP90) mediated transient expression and EMS mutagenesis as promising tools in the investigation of stromule regulation and significance.
Publications
- (2012) New insights on stromules: Stroma filled tubules extended by independent plastids. Plant Signal Behav 7: 1132-1137
Schattat MH, Klösgen RB, Mathur J
