Photosynthetic Membranes in Plants : The Glycolipds Cohesion.

In plants the photosynthetic membranes (or thylakoids), exhibit high contents in glycolipids whose carbohydrate head groups and their hydroxyl groups display multiple small electric dipoles. Simulations using solvent explicit molecular dynamics calculations were performed on membrane models composed of two glycolipids MGDG monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerols (DGDG).

These two non-ionic glycolipids are constituents of the thylakoid membrane of higher plants. The results of the simulation show (in agreement with some experimental data) that a balanced interaction between water and glycolipids head groups, is a main factor that explains the tight cohesion occurring between glycolipids. This unique features of interactions is essential for the biogenesis and structure of photosynthetic membranes.