Role of sulfolipds in grana thylakoid stacking

Abstract

In higher plants and algae, the thylakoid membranes are organized into closely appressed or stacked regions (grana), and a network of single interconnecting unstacked regions (stroma lamellae). The components and forces responsible for adhesion between thylakoids have been the subject of intense studies. Although these studies have added significantly to our knowledge of chloroplast membrane structure and function, they have failed to provide a clear rationale for grana membrane stacking. Completedestacking of grana occurs when chloroplasts are suspended in low-salt (10 mM NaCl) solution. Normal levels of stacked and un-stacked regions can be restored by incubation in salt solutions (150 mM NaCl).