Control of Thylakoid Growth in Phaseolus vulgaris.

An attempt was made to answer whether the extent of thylakoid growth in Phaseolus vulgaris is controlled by a feedback inhibition mechanism, operating after insertion of all of the necessary components of the mature thylakoid, in the right amounts and ratio, or by parameters independent of the developmental stage of the membrane. This was done by following the growth of thylakoids, as monitored by the rate of chlorophyll accumulation and the rate of thylakoid protein synthesis, in etiolated plants exposed either directly to continuous light (transformation of prolamellar body to mature thylakoid) or first to periodic light and then to continuous light (transformation of prolamellar body to primary thylakoids and then to mature thylakoids). It was found that prolonged etiolation has no effect on the rate of thylakoid synthesis in continuous light. However, prolonged preexposure to periodic light diminishes drastically the rate of new thylakoid synthesis in continuous light. Since the thylakoids formed in the latter case are far from being complete, it seems that thylakoid growth can stop long before all of the necessary components are incorporated. Parameters independent of the developmental stage and composition of the membrane, therefore, seem to control membrane growth.