Retrospective of a botanist

An autobiographic report of studies on the elucidation of the structure of the chloroplast is presented here. It deals with the discovery of the lamellar structure of chloroplasts by polarization-microscopy, the representation of their layer-like structure with the ultraviolet microscope and the results obtained by the electron-microscope leading to the discovery of the structural elements of the lamellar system. These lamellar structures were in the form of vesicles, and were named thylakoids. Isolation of the chloroplasts made it possible to determine their chemical composition. Amphiphilic lipids, together with water, create bimolecular layers and, therefore, are responsible for the structure of the thylakoid-membranes. The role of membrane proteins was emphasized. The isolation of the individual polypeptides was possible after dissociation in sodium-dodecyl-sulfate. Antisera to these polypeptides were used to localize them in the membrane. These antisera are able to inhibit special steps in the electron transport. Our results of the spectroscopic examination of photosynthetic membrane components are also discussed.This article was written at the invitation of Dr Govindjee.