Effect of Membrane Fluidity on Photosynthetic Oxygen Production Reactions

2007 ◽  
Vol 62 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 253-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoaneta V. Popova ◽  
Maya Velitchkova ◽  
Yuli Zanev

Abstract The effect of changes of membrane fluidity on the oxygen evolving capability of isolated thylakoids was investigated. Alteration of the lipid phase fluidity was achieved by incorporation of the plant sterol stigmasterol. Incorporation of stigmasterol in the lipid bilayer of thylakoid membranes results in rigidization of the hydrophobic phase of thylakoid membranes and decreases the degree of packing of the lipid head groups. These changes of lipid order are accompanied by a reduction of oxygen evolution, measured with 1,4-benzoquinone as an electron acceptor, and by a more pronounced inhibition of PSI-mediated electron transport. By analysis of the parameters of oxygen flash yields and oxygen burst under continuous illumination it was shown that after treatment with stigmasterol: 1.) the number of active oxygen-evolving centres decreased; 2.) the remaining active oxygen-evolving centres were not affected in respect to the oscillation pattern; 3.) the contribution of the slow oxygenevolving centres in oxygen burst yield was increased. The effect of stigmasterol was compared with the well-studied effect of cholesterol. Results were discussed in terms of determining the role of lipid order for the organization and functioning of the photosynthetic machinery.

Gels ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Ana M. Herrero ◽  
Claudia Ruiz-Capillas

Considerable attention has been paid to emulsion gels (EGs) in recent years due to their interesting applications in food. The aim of this work is to shed light on the role played by chia oil in the technological and structural properties of EGs made from soy protein isolates (SPI) and alginate. Two systems were studied: oil-free SPI gels (SPI/G) and the corresponding SPI EGs (SPI/EG) that contain chia oil. The proximate composition, technological properties (syneresis, pH, color and texture) and structural properties using Raman spectroscopy were determined for SPI/G and SPI/EG. No noticeable (p > 0.05) syneresis was observed in either sample. The pH values were similar (p > 0.05) for SPI/G and SPI/EG, but their texture and color differed significantly depending on the presence of chia oil. SPI/EG featured significantly lower redness and more lightness and yellowness and exhibited greater puncture and gel strengths than SPI/G. Raman spectroscopy revealed significant changes in the protein secondary structure, i.e., higher (p < 0.05) α-helix and lower (p < 0.05) β-sheet, turn and unordered structures, after the incorporation of chia oil to form the corresponding SPI/EG. Apparently, there is a correlation between these structural changes and the textural modifications observed.


Author(s):  
Keisuke Saito ◽  
Minesato Nakagawa ◽  
Manoj Mandal ◽  
Hiroshi Ishikita

AbstractPhotosystem II (PSII) contains Ca2+, which is essential to the oxygen-evolving activity of the catalytic Mn4CaO5 complex. Replacement of Ca2+ with other redox-inactive metals results in a loss/decrease of oxygen-evolving activity. To investigate the role of Ca2+ in this catalytic reaction, we investigate artificial Mn3[M]O2 clusters redox-inactive metals  [M] ([M]  = Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Sr2+, and Y3+), which were synthesized by Tsui et al. (Nat Chem 5:293, 2013). The experimentally measured redox potentials (Em) of these clusters are best described by the energy of their highest occupied molecular orbitals. Quantum chemical calculations showed that the valence of metals predominantly affects Em(MnIII/IV), whereas the ionic radius of metals affects Em(MnIII/IV) only slightly.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 397-406
Author(s):  
Olusegun L. Adebayo ◽  
Bamidele A. Salau ◽  
Rajat Sandhir ◽  
Gbenga A. Adenuga

Studies have shown that protein undernutrition (PU) modifies the membrane lipid composition in the intestine and liver, as well as in plasma and other areas. However, there is limited information on the effect of PU on synaptosomal membrane lipid composition and fluidity and the protective role of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), which is a major focus of the present study. For 10 weeks, rats were fed diets containing 16% casein, which constituted the adequate protein diet, or 5% casein, representing the PU diet. The animals were supplemented with Se and Zn at a concentration of 0.15 and 227 mg L-1, respectively, in drinking water for 3 weeks. The results showed a significant increase in total lipids, glycolipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, and the cholesterol/phospholipid (Chol/PL) ratio, and a significant reduction in phospholipids and membrane fluidity. Se and Zn supplementation to PU rats, however, significantly lowered total lipids, glycolipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, and the Chol/PL ratio, while phospholipids and membrane fluidity were significantly restored. It is concluded that a perturbed lipid composition induced by PU affects the membrane structure and fluidity, which in turn influences membrane functions. The study suggests that Se and Zn supplementation might be beneficial in restoring the lipid dyshomeostasis associated with PU.


Author(s):  
Martha S. Sandy ◽  
Donato Di Monte ◽  
Phyllis Cohen ◽  
Martyn T. Smith
Keyword(s):  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document