Galactosyl diglycerides: their possible function in Euglena chloroplasts.
Illumination of euglenas grown in the dark induces the formation of chloroplasts characterized by the simultaneous appearance of chlorophyll and galactosyl diglycerides in a relatively fixed ratio. The fatty acyl chains of the galactosyl diglycerides are constructed so that they can provide a stable lock-and-key fit with the phytol chains of chlorophyll in such a way as to localize the porphyrin structures of chlorophyll and space them for efficient photoreception. Light-starved photobiotic euglenas show chloroplast shrinkage with a concurrent partial loss of galactosyl diglycerides.
D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism*; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D005055:Euglena / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005989:Glycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D011830:Radiation Effects
D005989:Glycerides; D002734:Chlorophyll