Post-genomic insight into thylakoid membrane lateral heterogeneity and redox balance

Photosynthetic machinery requires balanced distribution of excitation energy from the light-harvesting complexes to photosystems. The efficiency of light-harvesting is regulated by thermal dissipation of excess energy, while the distribution of energy between photosystems is dependent on STN7 kinase and phosphorylation of thylakoid proteins. The regulation of excitation energy transfer has been linked to the lateral segregation of photosynthetic complexes along the thylakoid membrane. The study of photosynthetic regulation mechanisms using Arabidopsis mutants, which have been available for the last ten years, has challenged traditional views on regulation of excitation energy distribution. Here, we discuss an urgent need to create a holistic view of the dynamics of the thylakoid membrane using systematic research of the mutants available today. (C) 2012 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.