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Analysis of Lipid Content and Quality in Arabidopsis Plastids

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Chloroplast Research in Arabidopsis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 775))

Abstract

Chloroplasts of plants contain an intricate membrane system, the thylakoids, which harbor the complexes of the photosynthetic machinery. Chloroplasts are confined by two membranes, the inner and outer envelope. The major glycerolipids of chloroplasts are the glycolipids monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGD), digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGD), and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQD). Furthermore, two phospholipids, phosphatidyl glycerol (PG) and phosphatidyl choline (PC), are found in chloroplast membranes. The photosystems and light-harvesting complexes in the thylakoids are rich in photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll, carotenoids, and xanthophylls) and contain a unique set of prenylquinol lipids (tocochromanol/vitamin E, plastoquinol, and phylloquinol/vitamin K1). In this chapter, methods for the isolation and quantification of chloroplast and leaf glycerolipids and prenylquinol lipids are presented. Glycerolipids are separated by thin-layer chromatography prior to conversion of the fatty acids into methyl esters. Fatty acid methyl esters are subsequently quantified by gas chromatography. Prenylquinol lipids are separated by HPLC and quantified by UV absorption (plastoquinol) or fluorescence (tocochromanol, phylloquinol).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular Physiology and Molecular Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Anna Maria Zbierzak, Peter Dörmann & Georg Hölzl

Authors
  1. Anna Maria Zbierzak
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  2. Peter Dörmann
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  3. Georg Hölzl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Dörmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom

    R. Paul Jarvis

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Zbierzak, A.M., Dörmann, P., Hölzl, G. (2011). Analysis of Lipid Content and Quality in Arabidopsis Plastids. In: Jarvis, R. (eds) Chloroplast Research in Arabidopsis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 775. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-237-3_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-237-3_22

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-236-6

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