Lhca polypeptides are maintained during dark-induced senescence of leaves

Thylakoid polypeptides samples from fresh and dark-incubated (0–6 days) leaves were tested for changes in relative abundancies of Lhca polypeptides using a set of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with immunoblot technique and integrating densitometry. All Lhca polypeptides were found to be more stable within 6 days of dark incubation than bulk chlorophyll itself. On chlorophyll basis the relative abundance of Lhca 1–4 increased after 6 days of dark incubation to 154, 177, 144 and 121 %, respectively, of the values found in fresh leaves.