[Plastidic genome of higher plants and algae: structure and function].

The data on the structure and gene content in completely sequenced plastid (predominantly chloroplast) genomes of higher plants and algae are reviewed. In higher plants, genome structure and gene content are highly conserved. Plastid genomes of algae are less conserved and contain several unique genes, which are not found in chloroplast DNAs of higher plants. Plastid genomes encode proteins involved in transcription and translation, as well as proteins of the photosynthetic apparatus and photosynthetic metabolism. The problems of origin and evolution of plastids are briefly discussed. The data published by the first half of 2002 are presented. Use was made of databases OGMP (http://megasun.bch.umontreal.ca/ogmp/projects/other/cp_list.html) and NCBI (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).