C5

Groupe Français de Bioénergétique

ROLE OF PLASTOGLOBULE LIPID DROPLETS IN CHLOROPLAST BIOENERGETICS Félix Kessler* Institut de Biologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Suisse

Plastoglobules are lipid droplets inside the chloroplast. They are closely associated with the photosynthetic thylakoid membrane. Around 20 different proteins reside at the surface of plastoglobules and mostly appear to be involved in various aspects of thylakoid lipid metabolism, including that of the prenylquinones (plastoquinone, phylloquinone/Vitamin K1 and tocopherol/Vitamin E). Plastoquinone and phylloquinone are essential components of the electron transfer chain in chloroplasts and tocopherol is an important lipid antioxidant. In this talk, a central role for plastoglobules in the synthesis and metabolism of all three prenylquinone types will be demonstrated. In addition, the elements of a new plastoquinone-based electron transfer pathway directly involving plastoglobules will be presented.

* Correspondance : [email protected]

16ème Congrès du Groupe Français de Bioénergétique Saint Pierre d’Oléron, 21-25 septembre 2011