Figure 6: Vascular transport pathway. This Figure has been reprinted with permission from Plant Vacuoles by Francis Martya (1999), Plant Cell, Vol. 11, 587-600.

Proteins destined for degradation are delivered to the vacuole via the secretory pathway, which includes the biosynthetic, autophagic, and endocytotic transport routes (Figure 6).

 

Interesting Facts:

• The large central vacuoles often found in plant cells enable them to attain a large size without accumulating the bulk that would make metabolism difficult.
• The importance of peroxisomes for human health is highlighted by the number of peroxisomal disorders (PDs).

• In addition to the synthesis of food, chloroplasts are also the site of production of plant fats and oils.
• It has been found that following the infection of a plant with the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), the viral helicase protein and a chloroplast protein form a complex that is recognized by a plant immune receptor.

• Chloroplast can be used to derive recombinant human vaccine.