A role of VIPP1 as a dynamic structure within thylakoid centers as sites of photosystem biogenesis?

Figures & data

Figure 1. Features of cyanobacterial thylakoid centers. (A) Thylakoids radiating from 2 thylakoid centers (arrows) forming an interconnection between 2 centers in Pleurocapsa minor (bar = 50 nm). (B) Longitudinal section of a thylakoid center (arrow) in Anabaena cylindrica (bar = 50 nm). (C) Markham rotation enhancement of a thylakoid center from Dermocarpa violaceae. The distinct 14-subunit pattern is marked with arrows. Adopted from Kunkel (1982).¹³

Figure 2. Common features of microtubule-like structures (MTLs) and VIPP1 rings/rods. (A) Electron microscopy image of a microtubule-like structure (arrow) within a young spinach chloroplast. From Lawrence and Possingham (1984).¹⁵ (B) Electron microscopy image after negative staining of recombinant Chlamydomonas VIPP1. The arrowhead indicates a VIPP1 ring. The scale is the same as that in Figure 2A.

Figure 3. Model for the role of VIPP1 as structural but dynamic component of chloroplast thylakoid centers.

Kunkel DD. Thylakoid centers: structures associated with the cyanobacterial photosynthetic membrane system. Arch Microbiol 1982; 133:97 - 9; http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00413518

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Lawrence ME, Possingham JV. Observations of microtubule-like structures within spinach plastids. Biol Cell 1984; 52:77 - 82

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