Plastoglobule Lipid Droplet Isolation from Plant Leaf Tissue and Cyanobacteria

Summary

A fast and efficient protocol is presented for the isolation of plastoglobule lipid droplets associated with various photosynthetic organisms. The successful preparation of isolated plastoglobules is a crucial first step that precedes detailed molecular investigations such as proteomic and lipidomic analyses.

Abstract

Plastoglobule lipid droplets are a dynamic sub-compartment of plant chloroplasts and cyanobacteria. Found ubiquitously among photosynthetic species, they are believed to serve a central role in the adaptation and remodeling of the thylakoid membrane under rapidly changing environmental conditions. The capacity to isolate plastoglobules of high purity has greatly facilitated their study through proteomic, lipidomic, and other methodologies. With plastoglobules of high purity and yield, it is possible to investigate their lipid and protein composition, enzymatic activity, and protein topology, among other possible molecular characteristics. This article presents a rapid and effective protocol for the isolation of plastoglobules from chloroplasts of plant leaf tissue and presents methodological variations for the isolation of plastoglobules and related lipid droplet structures from maize leaves, the desiccated leaf tissue of the resurrection plant, Eragrostis nindensis, and the cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Isolation relies on the low density of these lipid-rich particles, which facilitates their purification by sucrose density flotation. This methodology will prove valuable in the study of plastoglobules from diverse species.

Introduction

The current understanding of plastoglobule composition and function has emerged through detailed proteomic and lipidomic studies^1,2,3,4,5. Such studies have been greatly aided by a rapid and effective method of isolation that relies on their very low density for efficient separation using sucrose gradients. Initial methods of plastoglobule isolation were achieved from species such as the beech tree (Fagus sylvatica), scotch broom (Sarothamnus scoparius), onion (Allium cepa), spina....

Protocol

1. Crude plastoglobule isolation

1. Crude plastoglobule extraction from un-stressed maize leaf tissue
   1. Acquire six healthy maize seedlings approximately 3 weeks old and nearly at the V5 growth stage, weighing approximately 120 g.
   2. Clip off all the leaves at the base of the stem, rapidly dunk them in an ice bath, and transport to the cold room.
   3. Working under a green safety lamp, remove the maize leaves from the ice bath and snip them into smaller pieces (around 5 c.......

Discussion

To minimize physiological/biochemical changes to the material and protect certain photo- and thermo-labile prenyl-lipid pigments that are a rich component of plastoglobules, it is critical to perform the isolation at 4 °C and protected from light. As indicated above, the initial steps are performed in the cold room under a safety lamp using a green-emitting light bulb. The subsequent steps performed in the laboratory are under dimmed lights and use ice or refrigerated centrifugation. For similar reasons, the inclusi.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
AEBSF	Milipore Sigma	P7626
Antipain.2HCl	Bachem	H-1765.0050BA
Aprotinin	Milipore Sigma	A6106
Ascorbate	BDH	BDH9242
Bestatin	Sigma Aldrich	B8385
Beta-Glycerophosphate. 2Na5H2O	EMD Millipore	35675
Bovine Serum Albumin	Proliant Biological	68700
Chymostatin	Sigma Aldrich	C7268
Eragrostis nindensis	N/A	N/A
E-64	Milipore Sigma	E3132
French Pressure cell (model FA-079)	SLM/Aminco	N/A
HEPES	Sigma Aldrich	H3375
Leupeptin	Sigma Aldrich	L2884
Magnesium Chloride	Sigma Aldrich	M8266
Multitron shaking incubator	Infors HT	N/A
Phospho-ramidon.2 Na	Sigma Aldrich	R7385
Potassium Hydroxide	Fisher Chemicals	M16050
Reduced Cysteine	MP Biochemicals	101444
Sodium Fluoride	Sigma Aldrich	S7920
Sodium Ortho-vanadate	Sigma Aldrich	450243
Sodium Pyrophosphate · 10H2O	Sigma Aldrich	3850
Sorbitol	Sigma Aldrich	S3889
Sucrose	Sigma Aldrich	S9378
Sylvania 15 W fluorescent Gro-Lux tube light bulb, 18"	Walmart	N/A
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803	N/A	N/A
Optima MAX-TL Ultracentrifuge	Beckman Coulter	A95761
Waring Blender (1.2 L)	VWR	58977-227	Commercial blender
Zea mays	N/A	N/A