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Carotenoids in Membranes

  • Chapter
The Photochemistry of Carotenoids

Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 8))

Summary

Membranes of bacteria, plants and animals contain carotenoid pigments as direct constituents of their lipid phase. The rod-like structure of a carotenoid molecule, often terminated with polar groups and the molecular dimensions of atypical carotenoid matching the thickness of the hydrophobic membrane core, are directly responsible for the localization and orientation of pigment molecules within the membrane and for effects on the membrane properties. Model studies have revealed several effects of carotenoids on structure and dynamics of lipid membranes. Restrictions to the motional freedom of lipids due to the hydrophobic interactions with rigid rod-like molecules of Carotenoids are the main cause of the effects on the membrane properties such as the increase in the membrane rigidity and thermostability or the increase in the penetration barrier to molecular oxygen and other small molecules. These and other effects on the membrane properties are reviewed and discussed with regard to the carotenoid biological functions in biomembranes including those already well established and experimentally proven, such as in the membranes of bacteria, those currently studied, like the effects of the xanthophyll pigments on the thylakoid membranes as well as those predictable on the basis of the results of the experiments carried out in model systems, awaiting confirmation from detailed physiological studies.

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Abbreviations

DBPC:

dibehanoylphosphatidylcholine

DGDG:

digalactosyldiacylglycerol

DLPC:

dilauroylphosphatidylcholine

DMPC:

dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine

DOPC:

dioleoylphosphatidylcholine

DPPC:

dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine

DSPC:

distearoylphosphatidylcholine

EYPC:

egg yolk phosphatidylcholine

MGDG:

monogalactosyldiacyl-glycerol

PC:

phosphatidylcholine

SASL:

stearic acid spin label

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Institute of Physics, Marie Curie-Sklodowska University, 20-031, Lublin, Poland

    Wieslaw I. Gruszecki

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  1. Wieslaw I. Gruszecki
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Harry A. Frank

  2. Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

    Andrew J. Young

  3. University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    George Britton

  4. University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Richard J. Cogdell

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Gruszecki, W.I. (1999). Carotenoids in Membranes. In: Frank, H.A., Young, A.J., Britton, G., Cogdell, R.J. (eds) The Photochemistry of Carotenoids. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48209-6_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48209-6_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

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