Movement of labelled metabolites from mitochondria to plastids during development.

The exchange of metabolites from isolated mitochondria of Avena sativa L. to isolated etioplasts or 1-24 h etio-chloroplasts, from the same laminae, has been investigated. The results confirm the synchronised changes in the permeabilities of the inner membranes of each during plastid development. They also indicated the possibility of directed transport of certain metabolites from mitochondria to plastids especially during the early stages of chloroplast maturation. Over 80% of labelled succinate and oxaloacetate previously associated with mitochondria was found to be associated with 1 and 2 h etio-chloroplasts after in vitro incubation, with their respective mitochondria, for only 1 min at 0°C. Other metabolites showed variable but lower rates of transfer and that of aminolevulinic acid was at a much reduced level throughout development.