Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Stromule formation is dependent upon plastid size, plastid differentiation status and the density of plastids within the cell

Waters, Mark; Fray, Rupert; Pyke, Kevin

Authors

Mark Waters

RUPERT FRAY RUPERT.FRAY@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Epitranscriptomics

Kevin Pyke



Abstract

Stromules are motile extensions of the plastid envelope membrane, whose roles are not fully understood. They are present on all plastid types but are more common and extensive on non-green plastids that are sparsely distributed within the cell. During tomato fruit ripening, chloroplasts in the mesocarp tissue differentiate into chromoplasts and undergo major shifts in morphology. In order to understand what factors regulate stromule formation, we analysed stromule biogenesis in tobacco hypocotyls and in two distinct plastid populations in tomato mesocarp. We show that increases in stromule length and frequency are correlated with chromoplast differentiation, but only in one plastid population where the plastids are larger and less numerous. We used tobacco hypocotyls to confirm that stromule length increases as plastids become further apart, suggesting that stromules optimise the plastid-cytoplasm contact area. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ectopic chloroplast components decrease stromule formation on tomato fruit chromoplasts, whereas preventing chloroplast development leads to increased numbers of stromules. Inhibition of fruit ripening has a dramatic impact on plastid and stromule morphology, underlining that plastid differentiation status, and not cell type, is a significant factor in determining the extent of plastid stromules. By modifying the plastid surface area, we propose that stromules enhance the specific metabolic activities of plastids.

This is an electronic version of an Article published in The Plant Journal, August 2004, Volume 39, pp. 655-667. Copyright 2004 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and The Society for Experimental Biology.

Citation

Waters, M., Fray, R., & Pyke, K. (2004). Stromule formation is dependent upon plastid size, plastid differentiation status and the density of plastids within the cell

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Aug 1, 2004
Deposit Date Jul 30, 2004
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal The Plant Journal
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 39
Issue 4
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1020924

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations