Photoregulation systems for light-oriented chloroplast movement

Movements of the chloroplasts induced by a directional stimulus of light are found to occur in various plant materials ranging from algae to terrestrial angiosperms. Depending on the fluence rate of light, chloroplasts move toward the area of the maximum light absorption and escape from it, which are named as low- and high-fluence-rate responses, respectively. In most materials the effective wavelengths are exclusively found in the blue-UV region of spectrum, (a) flavin pigment(s) being considered as the photoreceptor, while in a few species of plants phytochrome is involved. The arrangement of chloroplasts as a result of the movement depends on the orientation of the electrical vector of light, which reflects the dichroic orientation of the photoreceptor for perception of light direction. Photosystems involved in these responses, however, are not only for perception of light direction, but also for realization of the movement and for holding of the chloroplasts in the reached site. Possible interactions and dual roles of photosystems in regulation of chloroplast movement are discussed.