Does the chloroplast small heat shock protein protect photosystem II during heat stress in vitro?
It has been suggested that the function of the chloroplast-localized small heat shock protein (sHsp) is to protect photosystem II (PSII) from heat inactivation. This paper reports that addition of purified sHsp protein to isolated thylakoid membranes gave no protection of PSII and questions that there is any direct effect of the sHsp on PSII. The opinion is forwarded that the primary role for the chloroplast-localized sHsp may not even be protection of PSII.
Department of Biochemistry, Lund University, PO Box 124, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
Ulrika
U
Härndahl
Cecilia
C
Sundby