Biogenesis of chloroplast membranes. IV. Lipid and pigment changes during synthesis of chloroplast membranes in a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardi y-1.

The glycolipid, phospholipid, pigment, and fatty acid content in whole y-1 cells during the greening process have been investigated. The time course of their changes indicates that phosphatidyl glycerol and glycolipids are the main lipids synthesized specifically during illumination of dark-grown cells, concomitant with an increase in the polyunsaturated C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids. The pigment complex of light-grown cells consists mainly of chlorophylls a and b, lutein, beta-carotene, violaxanthin, and neoxanthin. During the greening process, chlorophylls a and b are synthesized in constant proportions (ratio a/b equals 2.6), beta-carotene and violaxanthin do not change significantly, and lutein and neoxanthin increase. The molar ratios of the different lipids and pigment to total chlorophyll during greening has been calculated. It was found that during the initial phase of greening when chlorophyll is synthesized at increasing rates, the molar ratios of various lipids and pigments to chlorophyll decrease and tend to become constant when chlorophyll and membrane synthesis proceed at constant rates. The implication of these findings with respect to the concept of membrane assembly through a spontaneous single step process is discussed