Lipids in Photosynthesis provides readers with a comprehensive view of
the structure, function and genetics of lipids in plants, algae and
bacteria, with special emphasis on the photosynthetic apparatus in
thylakoid membranes. This volume includes the historical background of
the field, as well as a full review of our current understanding of the
structure and molecular organization of lipids and their role in the
functions of photosynthetic membranes. The physical properties of
membrane lipids in thylakoid membranes and their relationship to
photosynthesis are also discussed. Other topics include the biosynthesis
of glycerolipids and triglycerides; reconstitution of photosynthetic
structures and activities with lipids; lipid-protein interactions in the
import of proteins into chloroplasts; the development of thylakoid
membranes as it relates to lipids; genetic engineering of the
unsaturation of membrane glycerolipids, with a focus on the ability of
the photosynthetic machinery to tolerate temperature stress; and the
involvement of chloroplast lipids in the reactions of plants upon
exposure to stress. This book is intended for a wide audience and should
be of interest to advanced undergraduate and graduate students and to
researchers active in the field, as well as to those scientists whose
fields of specialization include the biochemistry, physiology, molecular
biology, biophysics and biotechnology of membranes.