Distribution of Chlorophylls, Carotenoids and Quinones in Chloroplasts of Higher Plants

Abstract

Leaves, cotyledons, isolated chloroplasts and subplastid fractions (thylakoids and envelopes) of radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Saxa) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. M atador) were assayed for their pigment and quinone content and com position. Virtually all the chlorophylls, carotenoids and quinones were contained in the thylakoids. Envelopes prepared by the method described contained very low amounts o f chlorophyll a and b, violaxanthin and neoxanthin, but no β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin. Among the quinones trace amounts of plastoquinone and a-tocopherol but no plastohydroquinone, a-tocoquinone and phylloquinone were detected. Presented data may be taken as evidence that in vivo the chloroplast envelope is not a location site of carotenoids and quinones as generally accepted. Possible im plications for the biosyntheses of quinones and pigments are discussed