The Galactolipid, Phospholipid, and Fatty Acid Composition of the Chloroplast Envelope Membranes of Vicia faba. L

The galactolipid, phospholipid, and fatty acid composition of chloroplast envelope membrane fractions isolated from leaves of Vicia faba L. has been determined. The major lipids in this fraction are: monogalactosyldiglyceride, 29%; digalactosyldiglyceride, 32%; phosphatidylcholine, 30%; and phosphatidylglycerol 9%. The lipid composition of the chloroplast envelope membranes is qualitatively similar to that of the lamellar membranes isolated from the same plastids, but the proportion of each lipid present is very different. The total galactolipid to total phospholipid ratio was 1.6: 1 in the envelope and 11.1: 1 in the lamellae. The monogalactosyldiglyceride-digalactosyl-diglyceride ratio was 0.9: 1 in the envelope and 2.4: 1 in the lamellae. Both membranes lack phosphatidylethanolamine.