Spatial Organization and Functional Roles of Acyl Lipids in Thylakoid Membranes

Paul-Andr Siegenthaler, Andr Rawyler and Christian Giroud 

The structural and functional asymmetry of protein complexes in the plane of and across the thylakoid membrane of higher plants raises the question of whether a similar heterogeneity exists for acyl lipid distribution and if SO, what should be its significance in terms of the overall structure and function of thylakoids. In spite of some recent progress concerning the spatial organization of acyl lipids, their role in photosynthetic functions is far from being elucidated. 

Lateral asymmetry of acyl lipids in the thylakoid membrane 

Several approaches have been adopted to assess the lateral heterogeneity of acyl lipids in the thylakoid membrane (for reports published until Sept. 1984, see ref. in Siegenthaler and Rawyler )  

As an example, a recent study by Murphy and Woodrow illustrates this fractionation strategy. Compcured to whole thylakoids, appressed regions 

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SPATIAL ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONAL ROLES OF ACYL LIPIDS IN THYLAKOID MEMBRANES... 

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