Cellular mechanisms of stromule formation

Stromules are stroma-filled protrusions of plastids that involve a drastic and dynamic change of the organelle’s shape by extending its surface. Although the phenomenon has been observed and reported, especially during stress-related conditions, the underlying mechanism behind stromule formation remains to be elucidated. In my work, I am studying whether various protein candidates alter plastid morphology and their relation to stromulation by combining confocal microscopy of living cells with AI-assisted image analysis.