Chloroplast Protein Import into the Stroma

Chloroplast protein import into the stroma depends on a set of membrane systems and protein machines that place each protein in the right location. Chloroplasts have an outer membrane, an inner membrane, and a thylakoid membrane. Each one contains its own transporters, translocons, and enzymes, so sorting is essential for ch...

Most chloroplast proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and translocated as unfolded precursors.

These precursors contain a cleavable transit signal at the N-terminal and an internal import signal that targets the protein to different subcompartments.

Cytosolic chaperones interact with the transit signal and direct the precursor t...