TY - JOUR A1 - Nordhues, Andre A1 - Schöttler, Mark Aurel A1 - Unger, Ann-Katrin A1 - Geimer, Stefan A1 - Schönfelder, Stephanie A1 - Schmollinger, Stefan A1 - Ruetgers, Mark A1 - Finazzi, Giovanni A1 - Soppa, Barbara A1 - Sommer, Frederik A1 - Mühlhaus, Timo A1 - Roach, Thomas A1 - Krieger-Liszkay, Anja A1 - Lokstein, Heiko A1 - Luis Crespo, Jose A1 - Schroda, Michael T1 - Evidence for a role of VIPP1 in the structural organization of the photosynthetic apparatus in chlamydomonas JF - The plant cell N2 - The vesicle-inducing protein in plastids (VIPP1) was suggested to play a role in thylakoid membrane formation via membrane vesicles. As this functional assignment is under debate, we investigated the function of VIPP1 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Using immunofluorescence, we localized VIPP1 to distinct spots within the chloroplast. In VIPP1-RNA interference/artificial microRNA cells, we consistently observed aberrant, prolamellar body-like structures at the origin of multiple thylakoid membrane layers, which appear to coincide with the immunofluorescent VIPP1 spots and suggest a defect in thylakoid membrane biogenesis. Accordingly, using quantitative shotgun proteomics, we found that unstressed vipp1 mutant cells accumulate 14 to 20% less photosystems, cytochrome b(6)f complex, and ATP synthase but 30% more light-harvesting complex II than control cells, while complex assembly, thylakoid membrane ultrastructure, and bulk lipid composition appeared unaltered. Photosystems in vipp1 mutants are sensitive to high light, which coincides with a lowered midpoint potential of the Q(A)/Q(A)(-) redox couple and increased thermosensitivity of photosystem II (PSII), suggesting structural defects in PSII. Moreover, swollen thylakoids, despite reduced membrane energization, in vipp1 mutants grown on ammonium suggest defects in the supermolecular organization of thylakoid membrane complexes. Overall, our data suggest a role of VIPP1 in the biogenesis/assembly of thylakoid membrane core complexes, most likely by supplying structural lipids. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.111.092692 SN - 1040-4651 VL - 24 IS - 2 SP - 637 EP - 659 PB - American Society of Plant Physiologists CY - Rockville ER -