XVI International Botanical Congess
Photosynthesis is a function of highly specialized thylakoid membranes, which are made up of unique nonphosphorous glycolipids. In my laboratory we are focusing on the biosynthesis and function of the galactolipid digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) and the sulfolipid sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG). We recently isolated genes by map based closing or heterologous DNA screening encoding enzymes involve din the biosynthesis of these two lipids from Arabidopsis thaliana. The DGD1 gene encodes the DGDG synthase, which also plays a crucial role in subcellular lipid trafficking. The SQD1 gene encodes an enzyme essential for the biosynthesis of the sulfolipid headgroup. The recently solved SQD1 crystal structure provides important clues toward the elucidation of sulfolipid biosynthesis.