Precursor‐mediated opening of translocation pores in chloroplast envelopes

Abstract

Direct electrical measurements on native chloroplast envelopes reveal that a full‐length chloroplast precursor protein causes an increase in the conductivity of the envelope membranes, due to its transit sequence. The conductivity is not influenced by a truncated precursor protein incapable of efficient translocation, suggesting precursor‐mediated opening of translocation pores in chloroplast envelopes.