Photosynthetic organisms are exposed and adapt to a continuously changing environment. Structural changes at different levels of complexity play a crucial role in the various adaptation mechanisms. In the chloroplasts of plants and algal cells and in cyanobacteria, the initial steps of the conversion of light energy into chemical energy occur in the thylakoid membranes. These membranes are the most abundant membranes on Earth and are often arranged in a multilamellar fashion. Their remarkable structural and functional flexibility plays a central role in several photosynthetic regulatory and adaptation mechanisms. By gaining further insight into the dynamic macroorganization of this complex membrane system we can deepen our understanding of how plants adapt to adverse environmental conditions. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a non-invasive structural characterization tool that is widely used for the mesoscale characterization of biological systems. SANS is uniquely suited to provide statistically and spatially averaged structural information about the thylakoid membranes in vivo. During the past decade, SANS enabled mapping of stressor induced reorganization of thylakoid membranes in organisms ranging from living cyanobacteria to the leaves of living plants. In this presentation, I will discuss recent advancements in experimental strategies, applied physicochemical stressors and data interpretation approaches which can enable and inspire us to answer pressing questions in photosynthesis research.

Microstructure of photosynthetic membranes

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