3D Chloroplast Structure

Abstract

Experimental stacking of thylakoid membranes isolated from two plant species with different susceptibility to chilling-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)-CS (chilling sensitive) plant and pea (Pisum sativum)-CT (chilling tolerant) plant were investigated as a function of Mg 2+ concentration at 0 and 6 or 8 mM MgCl 2. Arrangement of CP (chlorophyll-protein) complexes were analyzed using low temperature (120 K) fluorescence emission spectra of thylakoid membranes. Three-dimensional structures of intact chloroplasts were obtained using confocal laser scanning fluores-cence microscopy (CLSM). Experiments revealed that a reorganization of the chloroplast structure caused by changes in MgCl 2 concentration is different in pea and bean.