Redox control of gene expression and the function of chloroplast genomes - an hypothesis.

Two-component regulatory systems that respond to changes in redox potential have recently been discovered in bacteria. 'Redox sensors' are defined as electron carriers which initiate control of gene expression upon oxidation or reduction. 'Redox response regulators' are defined as DNA-binding proteins which modify gene expression as a result of the action of redox sensors. Redox sensors and redox response regulators may comprise a mechanism for feedback control of redox potential in photosynthetic electron transport chains, thereby protecting plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria from damage caused by electrochemistry operating on inappropriate electron donors and acceptors. Chloroplast redox sensors and redox response regulators, themselves encoded in the nucleus, may place chloroplast gene expression under redox regulatory control. This may account for the persistence, in evolution, of chloroplast genomes, and for the constancy of the sub-set of chloroplast proteins encoded and synthesised in situ. These and other predictions are discussed.