Biogenesis of Chloroplast Membranes

Modulation of the synthesis of membrane proteins and chlorophyll during the light-dependent formation of the chloroplast membranes in Chlamydomonas reinhardi y-l was achieved through use of inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis and alternating exposure to the light or dark.The relative content of membrane proteins of cytoplasmic origin (L protein), of chloroplast origin (activation proteins), and of chlorophyll in the growing membrane can be changed so as to obtain membranes of differing composition.Membranes formed in a normal greening process have a relatively constant proportion of L protein, activation proteins, chlorophyll, and lipids.Synthesis of activation proteins can be in-