Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Composition and function of plastoglobuli

I. Isolation and purification from chloroplasts and chromoplasts

  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Plastoglobuli have been isolated and purified from chloroplasts of beech and spinach leaves and from broom flower chromoplasts by a repeated floating-gradient technique. The main components in plastoglobuli isolated from chloroplasts were triacylglycerols and lipophilic prenyl quinones, mainly plastohydroquinone and α-tocopherol. The corresponding oxidized prenyl quinones, plastoquinone (ox), α-tocoquinone, and the phylloquinone vitamin K1, were detected in trace amounts. Plastoglobuli isolated from chromoplasts contained large amounts of carotenoid esters. Triacylglycerols constituted two-thirds of the content of these plastoglobuli. The total prenyl quinone content was low in chromoplast plastoglobuli. Plastoquinone (ox) was the major prenyl quinone constituent. Plastoglobuli contained small amounts of chlorophylls, carotenoids (with the exception of chromoplast plastoglobuli), glycolipids, and proteins due to adsorption phenomena during the isolation process; however, increasing purification of the plastoglobuli fractions resulted in an exponential decline of these components. Adsorption of thylakoid lipids onto the plastoglobuli during the isolation process was demonstrated using an artificial globuli system. Therefore, pigments, glyco- and phospholipids, and proteins were regarded as thylakoid contaminations and not as actual constituents of plastoglobuli.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailey, J.L., Whyborn, A.G. (1963) The osmiophilic globules of chloroplasts. II. Globules of spinach beet chloroplasts. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 78, 163–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Cholnoky, L., Szablocs, J., Nagy, E. (1958) Untersuchungen über die Carotinoidfarbstoffe. Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. 616, 207–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Debuch, H., Mertens, W., Winterfeld, M. (1968) Quantitative Bestimmung der Phospholipide mithilfe einer zweidimensionalen dünnschichtchromatographischen Methode. Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem. 349, 896–902

    Google Scholar 

  • Devidé, Z., Ljubešić, K. (1974) The reversion of chromoplasts to chloroplasts in pumpkin fruits. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 73, 296–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggstein, M., Kreutz, F.H. (1966) Eine neue Bestimmung der Neutralfette im Blutserum und Gewebe. Klin. Wochenschr. 5, 262–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Falk, H. (1960) Magnoglobuli in Chromoplasten von Ficus elastica Roxb. Planta 55, 525–532

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, A.D., Leech, R.M., Williams, J.P. (1963) The osmiophilic globules of chloroplasts. I. Osmiophilic globules as a normal component of chloroplasts and their isolation and composition in Vicia faba. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 78, 148–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Grönegress, P. (1974) The structure of chromoplasts and their conversion to chloroplasts. J. Microsc. (Paris) 19, 183–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansmann, P., Sitte, P. (1982) Composition and molecular structure of chromoplast globules of Viola tricolor. Plant Cell Rep. 1, 111–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J.B., Arnott, H.J. (1973) Effects of senescence on chloroplasts of the tobacco leaf. Tissue Cell 5, 527–544

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Isler, O., Lindlar, H., Montavon, M., Rüegg, R., Saucy, G., Zeller, P. (1956) Synthesen in der Carotinoid-Reihe. Helv. Chim. Acta 39, 2041–2053

    Google Scholar 

  • Khera, P.K., Tilney-Bassett, R.A.E. (1976) Fine structural observations of the cotyledons in germinating seeds of Pelargonium X hortorum Bailey: with normal and mutant plants. Protoplasma 88, 201–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolattukudy, P.E. (1980) Cutin, suberin, and waxes. In: The biochemistry of plants, vol. 4: Lipids, structure and function, pp. 571–645, Stumpf, P.K., ed. Academic Press, New York London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutzelnigg, H., Meyer, B., Schötz, F. (1975) Untersuchungen an Plastommutanten on Oenothera. II. Überblick über die Ultrastruktur der mutierten Plastiden. III. Vergleichende ultrastrukturelle Charakterisierung der Mutanten. Biol. Zentralbl. 94, 513–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler, H.K. (1964) Untersuchungen über die osmiophilen Globuli der Chloroplasten. Ber. Dtsch. Bot. Ges. 79, 111–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler, H.K. (1966) Plastoglobuli und Plastidenstruktur. Ber. Dtsch. Bot. Ges. 79, 82–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler, H.K. (1968) Untersuchungen über die Lipochinon-und Pigmentzusammensetzung des Photosyntheseapparates. Habilitationsschrift, Universität Münster

  • Lichtenthaler, H.K. (1969a) Die Plastoglobuli von Spinat, ihre Größe, Isolierung und Lipochinonzusammensetzung. Protoplasma 68, 56–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler, H.K. (1969b) Die Plastoglobuli von Spinat, ihre Größe und Zusammensetzung während der Chloroplastendegeneration. Protoplasma 68, 315–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler, H.K. (1970) Formation and function of plastoglobuli in plastids. In: Congrès international de Microscopie électronique, Grenoble, pp. 205–206, Soc. Française Micr. Eléctronique, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtenthaler, H.K., Peveling, E. (1967) Plastoglobuli und osmiophile cytoplasmatische Lipideinschlüsse in grünen Blättern von Hoya carnosa R. Br. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 56, 153–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry, O.H., Rosebrought, N.J., Ferr, A.C., Randall, R.J. (1951) Protein measurement with folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193, 256–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe, L.D., Schmitz, A.A., Pelka, J.R. (1966) Rapid preparation of fatty acid esters from lipids for gas chromatographic analysis. Anal. Chem. 38, 514–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Roughan, P.G., Batt, R.D. (1968) Quantitative analysis of sulfolipid and galactolipids in plant tissues. Anal. Biochem. 22, 78–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, F.H., Dahl, K. (1968) Zur Methode der enzymatischen Neutralfettbestimmung in biologischen Material. Z. Klin. Chem. Klin. Biochem. 3, 156–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, D. (1977) Chromoplasten bei Moosen. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 81, 85–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Simola, L.K. (1973) Development of chloroplasts in intact Atropa belladonna and in stem callus cultures during greening and leaf differentiation. Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. Ser. A 4 196, 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D.J., Baqar, M.R. (1977) Chromoplast ultrastructure of Capsicum carotenoid mutants. II. Effect of light and CPTA. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 83, 309–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D.J., Baqar, M.R., Lee, T.H. (1977a) Chemical regulation of plastid development. III. Effect of light and CPTA on chromoplast ultrastructure and carotenoids of Capsicum annuum. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 82, 189–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D.J., Baqar, M.R., Lee, T.H. (1977b) Fine structure and carotenoid composition of the fibrillar chromoplast of Asparagus officinalis L. Ann. Bot. (London) 41, 1101–1108

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D.J., Baqar, M.R., Lee, T.H. (1977c) Chromoplast ultrastructure of Capsicum annuum carotenoid mutants. I. Ultrastructure and carotenoid composition of a new mutant. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 83, 293–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D.J., Baqar, M.R., Lee, T.H. (1978a) Fine structure of the chromoplast of fruit of Solanum aviculare Forth. var. brisbanese. Aust. J. Bot. 26, 783–792

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D.J., Baqar, M.R., Lee, T.H. (1978b) Chromoplast ultrastructure in fruits of Solanum pseudocapsicum and fruite and sepals of Physalis alkekengi. Aust. J. Bot. 26, 793–806

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D.J., Lee, T.H. (1976) Plastoglobules of leaf chloroplasts of two cultivars of Capsicum anuum. Cytobios 15, 139–147

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sitte, P. (1974) Plastidenmetamorphose and Chromoplasten bei Chrysosplenium. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 73, 243–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Sitte, P. (1977a) Chromoplasten-bunte Objekte der modernen Zellbiologie. Biol. unserer Zeit 7, 65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Sitte, P. (1977b) Functional organization of biomembranes. In: Lipid and lipid polymers in higher plants, pp. 1–28, Tevini, M., Lichtenthaler, H.K., eds. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprey, B. (1973) Lichtinduzierte Entwicklung von Etioplasten zu Chloroplasten: Induktion und Regulation der Membranbildung. Ber. Kernforsch. Jülich Nr. 1019 BO

  • Steinmüller, D., Tevini, M. (1981) Die Lipidzusammensetzung von Plastoglobuli, In: 3. Arbeitstagung Pflanzliche Lipide, p. 4, Universität Ulm

  • Steinmüller, D., Tevini, M. (1984) UV-B-Induced effects upon cuticular waxes of cucumber, bean, and barley leaves. In: The impact of solar ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation upon terrestrial ecosystems. I. Agricultural systems, Worrest, R.C., ed. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tevini, M. (1976) Veränderungen der Glyko- und Phospholipidgehalte während der Blattvergilbung. Planta 128, 167–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Tevini, M. (1977) Light, function, and lipids during plastid development. In: Lipid and lipid polymers in higher plants, pp. 121–145, Tevini, M., Lichtenthaler, H.K., eds. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Tevini, M., Iwanzik, W., Thoma, U. (1981) Some effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on the growth and composition of plants. Planta 153, 388–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Tevini, M., Steinmüller, D. (1984) Lipids. In: High performance liquid chromatography in biochemistry, Henschen, A., Hupe, K. P., Lottspreich, F., Voelter, W., eds. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walles, B., Hudack, J. (1975) Etioplast and chromoplast development in the lycopenic mutant of maize. J. Submicrosc. Cytol. 7, 325–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Wattendorf, J. (1980) Cutinisierte und suberinisierte Zellwände: Schutzhüllen der höheren Pflanzen. Biol. unserer Zeit 10, 81–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellburn, A.R., Quail, P.H., Gunning, B.E.S. (1977) Examination of ribosome-like particles in isolated prolamellar bodies. Planta 134, 45–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Wuttke, H.G. (1976) Chromoplasts in Rosa rugosa: development and chemical characterization of tubular elements. Z. Naturforsch. Teil C 31, 456–460

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanisches Institut II der Universität, Kaiserstrasse 12, D-7500, Karlsruhe, Germany

    D. Steinmüller & M. Tevini

Authors
  1. D. Steinmüller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Tevini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Steinmüller, D., Tevini, M. Composition and function of plastoglobuli. Planta 163, 201–207 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393507

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393507

Key words

Search

Navigation