Chloroplast RNA metabolism

• Published in: Annual review of plant biology 2010-01, Vol.61 (1), p.125-155
• Main Authors: Stern, David B, Goldschmidt-Clermont, Michel, Hanson, Maureen R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Motifs; Amino acids; Botany; Chloroplasts; Chloroplasts - genetics; Chloroplasts - metabolism; Genomics; Metabolism; Photosynthesis; Plant biology; Plant Proteins - chemistry; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism; Proteins; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; RNA, Chloroplast - genetics; RNA, Chloroplast - metabolism; RNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 1543-5008; 1545-2123
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-042809-112242

The chloroplast genome encodes proteins required for photosynthesis, gene expression, and other essential organellar functions. Derived from a cyanobacterial ancestor, the chloroplast combines prokaryotic and eukaryotic features of gene expression and is regulated by many nucleus-encoded proteins. This review covers four major chloroplast posttranscriptional processes: RNA processing, editing, splicing, and turnover. RNA processing includes the generation of transcript 5' and 3' termini, as well as the cleavage of polycistronic transcripts. Editing converts specific C residues to U and often changes the amino acid that is specified by the edited codon. Chloroplasts feature introns of groups I and II, which undergo protein-facilitated cis- or trans-splicing in vivo. Each of these RNA-based processes involves proteins of the pentatricopeptide motif-containing family, which does not occur in prokaryotes. Plant-specific RNA-binding proteins may underpin the adaptation of the chloroplast to the eukaryotic context.