ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a summary of results which indicate that the observed changes in thylakoid membrane organization during growth and development at low temperature are, at least in part, due to an altered membrane assembly process. It presents evidence for a single specific change in the fatty acid composition of phosphatidyldiacyl-glycerol which believe to be a key to understanding how low temperature modulates the supramolecular organization of an integral thylakoid membrane pigment-protein complex from winter rye. The chapter employs the chloroplast thylakoid membranes to examine membrane assembly during growth and development at low temperature in order to understand the role(s) this process might play in plant acclimation to cold-hardening temperatures. It suggests that a greater focus on the effects of temperature on membrane biogenesis, membrane assembly processes, and lipid-protein interactions will lead to a greater understanding of the effects of low temperature acclimation on membrane structure and function.
