Uptake of mevalonate and acetate during plastid development

1. The envelopes of etioplasts and 1-2h etiochloroplasts are permeable to mevalonate, but plastids from etiolated tissue illuminated for longer than 4h show progressive impermeability towards mevalonate. 2. Acetate permeates the envelopes of 1-4h etiochloroplasts but does not significantly cross the envelopes of etioplasts or 8-24h etiochloroplasts. 3. A translocator system exists within the plastid envelopes for mevalonate which relies on malate as a counter-exchange anion.