Metabolism and transport in non-photosynthetic plastids

Abstract

Plastids in non-photosynthetic tissue are the site of fatty acid, starch and amino acid synthesis. The intermediates to support these activities are imported from the cytoplasm or generated by carbohydrate oxidation within the organelle. This review considers the current understanding of the nature of the substrates which are transported into such plastids, the interaction between pathways within the organelle which have a supply and demand relationship, and pathways which potentially compete for substrates.