Plastids

Plastids are plant organelles involved in photosynthesis (as chloroplasts) and in many other metabolic functions and pathways. The last decade or so has seen great advancement in research, largely through reverse genetic approaches and forward genetic screening programs which have revealed many choloroplast protein-function relationships. In ten papers, contributors describe their work in such topics as the genomic era of chloroplast research, plastid development and differentiation, plastid metabolic pathways, plastid division in higher plants, the protein import pathway into chloroplasts, biogenesis of the thylakoid membrane, proteolytic machinery, regulation of nuclear gene expression, avoidance movement, and enhancement of agronomic traits for medicine and industry. Papers include their own resources and the editors provide a general index. Annotation c2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)