The effect of freezing on thylakoid membranes in the presence of organic acids

The effect of salts of organic acids on washed and non-washed chloroplast membranes during freezing was investigated. Thylakoids were isolated from spinach leaves (Spinacia oleracea L.) and, prior to freezing, salts of various organic acids or inorganic salts or both were added. Freezing occurred for 3 to 4 hours at −25 C. After thawing membrane integrity was investigated by measuring the activity of cyclic photophosphorylation.