Retrograde signaling: Organelles go networking

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta 2016-08, Vol.1857 (8), p.1313-1325
• Main Authors: Kleine, Tatjana, Leister, Dario
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism; Biogenic control; Cell Nucleus - genetics; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Chloroplasts; Chloroplasts - genetics; Chloroplasts - metabolism; Computational Biology; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Feedback, Physiological; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genomes uncoupled; Gun; Metabolome - genetics; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - genetics; Mitochondria - metabolism; Nuclear gene expression; Operational control; Organellar gene expression; Photosynthesis - genetics; Protein Isoforms - genetics; Protein Isoforms - metabolism; Retrograde; Signal Transduction; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 0005-2728; 0006-3002; 1879-2650
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.03.017

The term retrograde signaling refers to the fact that chloroplasts and mitochondria utilize specific signaling molecules to convey information on their developmental and physiological states to the nucleus and modulate the expression of nuclear genes accordingly. Signals emanating from plastids have been associated with two main networks: ‘Biogenic control’ is active during early stages of chloroplast development, while ‘operational’ control functions in response to environmental fluctuations. Early work focused on the former and its major players, the GUN proteins. However, our view of retrograde signaling has since been extended and revised. Elements of several ‘operational’ signaling circuits have come to light, including metabolites, signaling cascades in the cytosol and transcription factors. Here, we review recent advances in the identification and characterization of retrograde signaling components. We place particular emphasis on the strategies employed to define signaling components, spanning the entire spectrum of genetic screens, metabolite profiling and bioinformatics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘EBEC 2016: 19th European Bioenergetics Conference, Riva del Garda, Italy, July 2–6, 2016’, edited by Prof. Paolo Bernardi. [Display omitted] •Several novel components of retrograde signaling have been identified recently.•Strategies employed to define signaling components are highlighted.•Mitochondrial and chloroplast signaling share components.•Retrograde signaling recruited modules that probably evolved in other contexts.