Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026

Identification of Plasmodesmal Localization Sequences in Proteins In Planta
Published on: August 15, 2017
Origin, targeting, and function of the apicomplexan plastid
D S Roos1, M J Crawford, R G Donald
1Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018, USA. droos@sas.upenn.edu
Abstract:
The discovery of a plastid in Plasmodium, Toxoplasma and related protozoan parasites provides a satisfying resolution to several long-standing mysteries: the mechanism of action for various surprisingly effective antibiotics; the subcellular location of an enigmatic 35 kb episomal DNA; and the nature of an unusual intracellular structure containing multiple membranes. The apicomplexan plastid highlights the importance of lateral genetic transfer in evolution and provides an accessible system for the investigation of protein targeting to secondary endosymbiotic organelles. Combining molecular genetic identification of targeting signals with whole genome analysis promises to yield a complete picture of organellar metabolic pathways and new targets for drug design.
Related Concept Videos
Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes
The Anatomy of Chloroplasts
Structure of Chloroplasts
A...
Protein Transport to the Outer Chloroplast Membrane
Two models describe the mechanism of precursor recognition and entry across the outer membrane through the TOC complex. Model 1 suggests the newly synthesized precursor binds to the TOC receptor 159 and forms a complex.
Protein Transport to the Thylakoids
Protein Transport to the Inner Chloroplast Membrane
Diversity of Protists II

