We are currently investigating the biochemical mechanism responsible for C-to-U RNA editing in vascular plant organelles. Proteins from at least 6 different protein families have been linked to RNA editing. The biochemical roles for OZ, RIP, ISE2, and RRM proteins are unresolved and under investigation. As part of this work we are investigating the role of proteins necessary for RNA editing. Plants with reduced chloroplastic RNA editing capabilities often exhibit albino/virescent phenotypes due to photosynthetic dysfunctions. A loss of editing function mutant is shown below. This illustrates the importance of RNA editing for plant growth. The albino plants shown below have a disruption in one critcial RNA editing factor. We are exploring the biochemical function of the RNA editing factor.