Abstract
The translocon at the inner envelope membrane of chloroplasts (Tic) plays a central role in plastid biogenesis by coordinating the sorting of nucleus-encoded preproteins across the inner membrane and coordinating the interactions of preproteins with the processing and folding machineries of the stroma. Beyond this general outline, the precise roles of known Tic proteins in translocation, sorting and preprotein maturation have not been defined. We have examined the function of a major Tic component, Tic110. We have demonstrated that the hydrophilic domain of Tic110 is soluble, located at the stromal side of the chloroplast inner envelope. It has also been demonstrated that Tic110 directly binds to preproteins. In this presentation, we demonstrate that Arabidopsis Tic110, atTic110, is essential for plastid biogenesis and plant viability. In addition, we will present data showing the mechanism of Tic110 during protein translocation across the inner envelope.
