The action of lipases on chloroplast membranes. III. The effect of lipid hydrolysis on chlorophyll-protein complexes in thylakoid membranes.

Bean thylakoid membranes treated with various lipolytic enzymes (bean galactolipase, phospholipases A2, C, D) showed marked changes in their acyl lipid composition. As a consequence of acyl lipids hydrolysis, destruction of some chlorophyll a-protein complexes (CP1a, CP1, CPa) or monomerization of the oligomeric of light harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complex (LHCP) was observed. It is concluded that galactolipids and phosphatidylcholine are responsible for the stability of CP1a, CP1 and CPa, respectively. Phosphatidylglycerol and to some extent monogalactosyldiacylglycerol are essential for the stabilization of oligomeric structures of light harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complex.