Molecular dynamics of the diatom thylakoid membrane under different light conditions

Abstract

During the last years significant progress was achieved in unraveling molecular characteristics of the thylakoid membrane of different diatoms. With the present review it is intended to summarize the current knowledge about the structural and functional changes within the thylakoid membrane of diatoms acclimated to different light conditions. This aspect is addressed on the level of the organization and regulation of light-harvesting proteins, the dissipation of excessively absorbed light energy by the process of non-photochemical quenching, and the lipid composition of diatom thylakoid membranes. Finally, a working hypothesis of the domain formation of the diatom thylakoid membrane is presented to highlight the most prominent differences of heterokontic thylakoids in comparison to vascular plants and green algae during the acclimation to low and high light conditions.