Changes in Chloroplast Ultrastructure and Thylakoid Membrane Proteins by High Light in Ginseng Leaves

Ultrastructural changes in Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer mesophyll chloroplasts and variation of thylakoid membrane protein in responce to the light intensity were studied in leaves of two-y-old plants exposed to two different light intensities under field coditions. The leaves were allowed to function for three months after emergence under two contrasting light conditions. The ginseng chloroplasts of 5% light were filled with highly stacked grana of condensely arrayed thylakoids, so that the stroma space was hardly observed. In contrast, chloroplasts from leaves at 100% sunlight had fewer thylakoid membranes and smaller grana stacks. The number of osmiophilic globules increased. Total Chl content and Chl b content were lower at 100% sunlight than 5% sunlight. The thylakoid membrane proteins in the leaves grown at 100% sunlight showed lower CPIa, LHCII and CP29 than those with 5% sunlight. This effect was most obvious for LHCII. Polypeptides showed major bands at 90, 64, 29-30, 22 and 14 kD, and minor bands at 59, 58, 54, 52, 49, 46, 44, 35, 23, 21 and 18-19 kD. All these bands were lower in intensity in the leaves exposed to 100% sunlight. Moreover, the bands at 58-59, 46-47 and 23 kD disappeared.