2 Phospholipid synthesis and dynamics in plant cells

Abstract

Phospholipids represent the second family of lipids after the galactolipids in photosynthetic tissues and the first in non-photosynthetic tissues. Their distribution among the membranes of the secretory pathway and the various organelles shows extensive compartmentation. The metabolic pathways involved in phospholipid biosynthesis are also distributed between several organelles. As a consequence, many lipid movements are expected to be required between these different compartments.

In this review, we focus mainly on the phospholipid biosynthetic pathways in leaves. We also discuss the cooperation between organelles that is required for phospholipid synthesis. Some aspects of the dynamics and the functions of phospholipids in the plastids, mitochondria, and membranes of the secretory pathway are documented. In the latter, we discuss the formation of lipid domains.