Plastid genes in motion: mechanisms and physiological implications of endosymbiotic gene transfer

Abstract Endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT), the movement of DNA from endosymbionts to the host nuclear genome, represents one of the driving forces in eukaryotic evolution. Throughout the process of endosymbiosis, EGT profoundly shaped host–symbiont interactions and the evolution of nuclear genomes. Recent studies reveal that EGT remains an active process in plants, indicating that it is far from a relic of early eukaryotic evolution. Here, we focus on one type of EGT: plastid-to-nucleus gene transfer, and highlight latest research breakthroughs that shed light on its physiological significance and the molecular mechanisms underlying this ancient, yet ongoing dialogue between genomes.