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BIOENERGETICS AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Thylakoid Membrane Reduction Affects the Photosystem Stoichiometry in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803^1,[C]

Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, ZBMZ (E.F., S.G., E.R., D.S.), and Fakultät für Biologie (E.F., S.G., E.R., J.G.), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, 79104 Freiburg, Germany

Biogenesis of thylakoid membranes in both chloroplasts and cyanobacteria is largely not understood today. The vesicle-inducing protein in plastids 1 (Vipp1) has been suggested to be essential for thylakoid membrane formation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), as well as in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, although its exact physiological function remains elusive so far. Here, we report that, upon depletion of Vipp1 in Synechocystis cells, the number of thylakoid layers in individual Synechocystis cells decreased, and that, in particular, the content of photosystem I (PSI) complexes was highly diminished in thylakoids. Furthermore, separation of native photosynthetic complexes indicated that PSI trimers are destabilized and the monomeric species is enriched. Therefore, depletion of thylakoid membranes specifically affects biogenesis and/or stabilization of PSI in cyanobacteria.

² These authors contributed equally to the article.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Dirk Schneider (dirk.schneider{at}biochemie.uni-freiburg.de).

^[C] Some figures in this article are displayed in color online but in black and white in the print edition.

www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.108.132373

^* Corresponding author; e-mail dirk.schneider{at}biochemie.uni-freiburg.de.

Received November 10, 2008; accepted December 18, 2008; published December 24, 2008.