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Lipids in Photosynthesis: Structure, Function and Genetics pp 103–118Cite as

The Physical Properties of Thylakoid Membrane Lipids and Their Relation to Photosynthesis

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Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 6))

Summary

The three main areas in which research into the physical properties of thylakoid membrane lipids has impacted on photosynthetic research are: lipid phase behavior and its relevance to membrane phase separations; lipidprotein interactions in the context of the structure and function of the main photosynthetic membrane complexes; and the fluidity properties of membranes in terms of thermal adaptation and the factors limiting rates of electron transport.

Many of our current ideas in these areas are based on a simple extrapolation of results obtained in studies carried out on purified thylakoid membrane lipids, or mixtures of such lipids. It has, however, become increasingly clear in recent years that such extrapolations are far from straightforward. This chapter is devoted to providing a review of the literature underlying these ideas in the context of what is currently known about the physical properties of thylakoid membrane lipids and their interaction with other membrane components.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Life Sciences, King’s College London, Campden Hill, London, W8 7AH, UK

    W. Patrick Williams

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Siegenthaler Paul-André

  2. National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan

    Murata Norio

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Williams, W.P. (1998). The Physical Properties of Thylakoid Membrane Lipids and Their Relation to Photosynthesis. In: Paul-André, S., Norio, M. (eds) Lipids in Photosynthesis: Structure, Function and Genetics. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48087-5_6

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