Translation of key proteins in the chloroplast is regulated by light.
Genetic and biochemical studies in the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas
reinhardtii suggest that light may regulate translation by modulating
the binding of activator proteins to the 5' untranslated region of chl
oroplast messenger RNAs. in vitro binding of the activator proteins to
psbA messenger RNA and in vivo translation of psbA messenger RNA is r
egulated by the redox state of these proteins, suggesting that the lig
ht stimulus is transduced by the photosynthesis-generated redox potent
ial.