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Membrane Lipids in Algae

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Lipids in Photosynthesis: Structure, Function and Genetics

Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 6))

Summary

Eukaryotic algae are a diverse group of organisms. Their lipid compositions have been less studied than those of higher plants but, nevertheless, we now have sufficient data to be able to make some broad generalizations. Algae contain many of the major lipids of plants, such as the glycosylglycerides and the usual phosphoglycerides. In addition, more unusual compounds such as the betaine lipids, chlorosulfolipids or various other sulfolipids may be major components of some species or orders.

Where information is available specifically about chloroplast membranes, it seems that the three glycosylglycerides, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, and phosphatidylglycerol are the main acyl lipids, as in plants. These four lipids have characteristic fatty acid compositions and are often highly enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids which may contain as many as six double bonds. The positional distribution of fatty acids on the thylakoid lipids of Chlamydomonas indicates that the former are made exclusively within the chloroplast.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences, University of Wales College of Cardiff, P.O. Box 911, Cardiff, CF1 3US, UK

    John L. Harwood

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  1. John L. Harwood
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Siegenthaler Paul-André

  2. National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan

    Murata Norio

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© 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Harwood, J.L. (1998). Membrane Lipids in Algae. In: Paul-André, S., Norio, M. (eds) Lipids in Photosynthesis: Structure, Function and Genetics. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48087-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48087-5_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-5173-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48087-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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