Light-independent stoichometry of galactosyl diglyceride and chlorophyll accretion during light-induced chloroplast membrane synthesis in Euglena.

In photobiotic Euglena gracilis, chlorophyll biosynthesis takes place at a rate which is a direct function of light intensity. There is stoichiometry between chlorophyll accumulation and that of galactosyl diglycerides. This stoichiometry remains relatively invariant, regardless of the wide changes in chlorophyll content brought about in response to controlled variation of light intensity. These findings suggest that the formation of chlorophyll-containing photoreceptor membranes may be paced and stabilized by concurrent synthesis of galactosyl diglycerides.