New insights into the types and function of proteases in plastids

Plastids change their morphology dynamically in response to environmental conditions and developmental status. Related to these plastid dynamics, the quality and quantity controls of proteins are necessary. Therefore, proteases are important as key regulators in almost all processes during the conversion of plastid types and the maintenance of plastid homeostasis. Recent progress in this field has revealed that various proteases and peptidases act on plastids. Results of the studies indicate that the vast majority of plastid proteases are homologous to prokaryotic ones because plastids are thought to originate from endosymbiosis of ancestral cyanobacteria. Moreover, the diversification of subunits of several plastid proteases has been revealed along with new insights into the functions of these homologues. This review provides basic information related to plastid proteases and the current view of their physiological roles in plastid homeostasis and biogenesis.