Dependence of plastoquinol diffusion on the shape, size and density of integral thylakoid proteins
Date
2003
Authors
Tremmel, I
Kirchhoff, Helmut
Weis, E
Farquhar, Graham
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
The diffusion of plastoquinol in the chloroplast thylakoid membrane is modelled using Monte Carlo techniques. The integral proteins are seen as obstacles to diffusion, and features of percolation theory emerge. Thus, the diffusion coefficient diminishes with increasing distance and there is a critical threshold of protein concentration, above which the long-range diffusion coefficient is zero. The area occupied by proteins in vivo is assessed and appears to be around this threshold, as determined from calculations assuming randomly distributed noninteracting proteins. Slight changes in the protein arrangement lead to pronounced changes in diffusion behaviour under such conditions. Mobility of the proteins increases the protein occupancy threshold, while boundary lipids impermeable to PQ diffusion decrease it. Further, the obstruction of plastoquinone/plastoquinol binding sites in a random arrangement is evaluated.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: lipid; plastoquinone; protein; article; binding site; calculation; concentration (parameters); diffusion; diffusion coefficient; in vivo study; mathematical analysis; Monte Carlo method; nonhuman; permeability; priority journal; protein analysis; protein Diffusion; Microdomain; Monte Carlo simulation; Percolation; Plastoquinone; Thylakoid membrane
Citation
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Source
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: International journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Type
Journal article