Biology Seminar Series featuring Dr. William Zerges-FR

Event Details:

The Biology Seminar Series presents Dr. William Zerges, who will speak on "Organelles within an Organelle: novel compartments in a chloroplast."

Abstract: Organelles within an Organelle: novel compartments in a chloroplast
Eukaryotic cell are compartmentalized by organelles. Compartmentalization of molecular processes enhances their efficiency and prevents deleterious reactions. Organelles are themselves compartmentalized into by microcompartments and membranous structures. We have discovered novel compartments in the chloroplast of the green algal Chlamydomonas. Chlamydomonas is a widely used model organism for cell biological processes that cannot be studied in yeast. One of these compartments is a membrane in a specific region of the chloroplast where it generates the two photosystems; light-driven battery chargers in photosynthesis. The other compartment is the pyrenoid, which is a non-membrane bound structure which is known to facilitate the fixation of CO2 in photosynthesis. We have found that the pyrenoid has role in the management of mRNAs of the genetic system of the chloroplast. These finding are providing a cytological context in our understanding of chloroplast biogenesis and RNA homeostasis.

Building: Bailey Hall

Room Number: 146