Molecular level insight into non-bilayer structure formation in thylakoid membranes: a molecular dynamics study

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61988987%3A17310%2F25%3AA2603B4C" target="_blank" >RIV/61988987:17310/25:A2603B4C - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11120-025-01156-3" target="_blank" >https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11120-025-01156-3</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11120-025-01156-3" target="_blank" >10.1007/s11120-025-01156-3</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Molecular level insight into non-bilayer structure formation in thylakoid membranes: a molecular dynamics study

Original language description

In oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, the light reactions are performed by protein complexes embedded in the lipid bilayer of thylakoid membranes (TMs). The organization of the bulk lipid molecules into bilayer structures provide optimal conditions for the build-up of the proton motive force (pmf) and its utilization for ATP synthesis. However, the lipid composition of TMs is dominated by the non-bilayer lipid species monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGDG), and functional plant TMs, besides the bilayer, contain large amounts of non-bilayer lipid phases. Bulk lipids have been shown to be associated with lumenal, stromal-side and marginal-region proteins and proposed to play roles in the self-assembly and photoprotection of the photosynthetic machinery. Furthermore, it has recently been pointed out that the generation and utilization of pmf for ATP synthesis according to the ‘protet’ or protonic charge transfer model Kell (Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg 1865(4):149504, 2024), requires high MGDG content Garab (Physiol Plant 177(2):e70230, 2025). In this study, to gain better insight into the structural and functional roles of MGDG, we employed all atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to explore how temperature, hydration levels and varying MGDG concentrations affect the structural and dynamic properties of bilayer membranes constituted of plant thylakoid lipids. Our findings reveal that MGDG promotes increased membrane fluidity and dynamic fluctuations in membrane thickness. MGDG-rich stacked bilayers spontaneously formed inverted hexagonal phases; these transitions were enhanced at low hydration levels and at elevated but physiologically relevant temperatures. It can thus be inferred that MGDG plays important roles in heat and drought stress mechanisms.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10610 - Biophysics

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA23-07744S" target="_blank" >GA23-07744S: Identification and characterization of structural entities associated with different lipid phases of plant thylakoid membranes</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Photosynthesis Research

ISSN

0166-8595

e-ISSN

1573-5079

Volume of the periodical

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Issue of the periodical within the volume

3

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

15

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001507242400001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105007695756