Adaptations of chloroplast protein transport mechanisms during land plant evolution

During the evolution of chloroplasts from a cyanobacterial endosymbiont, ancient prokaryotic protein targeting machineries were adapted and combined with novel targeting mechanisms to facilitate protein transport in chloroplasts. In the proposed project we aim to analyse the molecular details of post- and cotranslational thylakoid membrane protein transport mechanisms in the moss Physcomitrium patens. These data will reveal insight into the evolutionary driving forces that triggered drastic molecular adaptations during land plant evolution.