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Lamellar dispersion and phase separation of chloroplast membrane lipids by negative staining electron microscopy

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Abstract

Aqueous dispersions of lipids isolated from spinach chloroplast membranes were studied by electron microscopy after negative staining with phosphotungstic acid. Influence of low temperature (5°C for 24 h) was also investigated. It was observed that when contacted with water, these lipids, as such, formed multilamellar structures. Upon sonication, these multilamellar structures gave rise to a clear suspension of unilamellar vesicles varying in size (diameter) between 250 and 750 Å. When samples of sonicated unilamellar vesicles were stored at 5°C for 24 h or more, they revealed a variety of lipid aggregates including liposomes, cylindrical rods (about 100 Å wide and up to 3600 Å long), and spherical micellar structures (100–200 Å in diameter)—thus indicating phase separation of lipids.

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Abbreviations

MGDG:

Monogalactosyl-diacyl-diglycerol

DGDG:

digalactosyl-diacyl-diglycerol

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Division, Carleton University and National Research Council, Ottawa, Canada

    R. C. Yashroy

  2. Biophysics, Electron Microscopy and Instrumentation Section A. N. Division (Bldg.), Indian Veterinary Research Institute, 243 122, Izatnagar, Bareilly, India

    R. C. Yashroy

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  1. R. C. Yashroy
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Yashroy, R.C. Lamellar dispersion and phase separation of chloroplast membrane lipids by negative staining electron microscopy. J Biosci 15, 93–98 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02703373

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02703373

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