Genetics And Biogenesis Of Mitochondria And Chloroplasts

No detailed description available for "Genetics and biogenesis of mitochondria. Proceedings of a colloquium held at Schliersee, Germany, August 1977".

Provides a thorough overview of current research with the green alga Chlamydomonas on chloroplast and mitochondrial biogenesis and function, with an emphasis on the assembly and structure-function relationships of the constituents of the photosynthetic apparatus. Contributions emphasize the multidisciplinary nature of current research in photosynthesis, combining molecular genetics, biochemical, biophysical, and physiological approaches. The 36 articles address topics including nuclear genome organization; RNA stability and processing; splicing; translation; protein targeting in the chloroplast; photosystems; pigments; glycerolipids; the ATP synthase; and ferrodoxin and thioredoxin. Further contributions address new measurements methods for photosynthetic activity in vivo; starch biosynthesis; the responses of Chlamydomonas to various stress conditions; nitrogen assimilation; and mitochondrial genetics. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

There are currently a growing number of laboratories actively studying the mechanism by which various biological membranes are assembled. This area of research is still relatively new to biochemists and molecular biologists, but in view of the rapid progress being made, a review of the field at this time is justified. The present volume focuses on the biogenesis of three related membranes. Mitochondria and chloroplasts are semiautonomous organelles whose biogenesis is carried out partly in the external cytoplasm and partly by the organelles themselves. Both membranes are principally concerned with the energy metabolism of the cell, and this commonality of function is reflected in a considerable degree of similarity in their ul trastructure and enzymatic composition. Although the bacterial cell membrane is a much more diversified structure, it also fulfills the basic energy requirements of the cell, and depending on the organism, this can take the form of photosynthesis or oxidative phosphorylation. The addi tional consideration that prokaryotic organisms may, in fact, be the evolu tionary ancestors of mitochondria and chloroplasts, makes it all the more compelling that those interested in biogenesis be aware of new develop ments in each of these three areas. In organizing this book, I felt that the contributors should summarize and bring up to date their own research and review the literature only in sofar as would be necessary to provide the proper perspective for their work.

The past decade has witnessed an explosion of our knowledge on the structure, coding capacity and evolution of the genomes of the two DNA-containing cell organelles in plants: chloroplasts (plastids) and mitochondria. Comparative genomics analyses have provided new insights into the origin of organelles by endosymbioses and uncovered an enormous evolutionary dynamics of organellar genomes. In addition, they have greatly helped to clarify phylogenetic relationships, especially in algae and early land plants with limited morphological and anatomical diversity. This book, written by leading experts, summarizes our current knowledge about plastid and mitochondrial genomes in all major groups of algae and land plants. It also includes chapters on endosymbioses, plastid and mitochondrial mutants, gene expression profiling and methods for organelle transformation. The book is designed for students and researchers in plant molecular biology, taxonomy, biotechnology and evolutionary biology.

Cytoplasmic Genes and Organelles is about cytoplasmic genes: what they are and what they do. It applies the concepts and methods of cytoplasmic genetics to the problems of cell and molecular biology to which they can uniquely contribute. It shows geneticists the many attractive problems in this area awaiting their attention; cell biologists and biochemists the usefulness of cytoplasmic genetic analysis in their endeavors; and students the potential power of an integrated experimental approach using cytoplasmic genes together with the more conventional tools of biochemistry and electron microscopy in the investigation of organelle biogenesis. The book treats the following aspects of cytoplasmic genetic systems: (1) the properties of cytoplasmic DNA; (2) the genetic analysis of cytoplasmic systems; and (3) the functions of cytoplasmic genes in organelle biogenesis. The opening chapter summarizes the principal findings to provide readers with a bird's eye view of the subject. Subsequent chapters cover topics such as cytoplastmic DNAs; cytoplasmic genes in Chlamydomonas; mitochondrial genetics of yeast; cytoplasmic genes in higher plants; the role of mitochondrial genes in mitochondrial biogenesis; and cytoplasmic genes and cell heredity.