CHANGED LATERAL MIGRATION OF PHOSPHO-LHCII IN THE THYLAKOID MEMBRANE UPON ACCLIMATION OF SPINACH TO LOW-TEMPERATURES

Movement of proteins along the plant thylakoid membrane is of importance for several physiological events, such as state transitions and turnover and repair of the photosystem II complex. Such lateral migrations are impaired at low temperatures, which could contribute to the increased sensitivity of plants to photoinhibitory damages at low temperatures. The migration behaviour of phospho-LHCII in thylakoid membranes isolated from cold-acclimated spinach was studied and compared to that in control membranes. The rate of migration of phospho-LHCII at low temperatures is increased 2- to 3-fold and the apparent activation energy of the migration is decreased after the cold acclimation.