Plastid Biology

Plastids reside in all plant cells, and take on different forms in relation to their cellular function, biochemistry and storage capacity. The modern era of molecular biology and molecular genetics has enabled much to be learnt about how plastids function, and how they relate to their evolutionary past. In this accessible text, Kevin Pyke expertly describes how the plastids are highly complex organelles at the very core of plant cellular function, providing final year undergraduate and graduate students with an overview of plastid biology and recent developments in the field. Topics covered include: a consideration of different plastid types and how they relate to cell function; plastid genomes and how proteins are imported into plastids; photosynthesis and core aspects of plastid biochemistry; plastid signalling and functionality within a cellular context; and plastid genetic manipulation. Supplementary colour images are available online at www.cambridge.org/9780521885010.

Preface; 1. What are plastids and where did they come from?; 2. Different types of plastids and their structure; 3. The plastid genome: structure, transcription and translation; 4. Photosynthesis; 5. Plastid import; 6. The development of the chloroplast; 7. Plastid metabolism; 8. Plastids and cellular function; 9. Plastid transformation and biotechnology; Further reading and resources; Index.

Covering plastid cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry, Kevin Pyke expertly shows how the plastids are highly complex organelles at the very core of plant cellular function. This text provides final year undergraduate and graduate students with a complete overview of plastid biology and recent developments in the field.