Effect of lead on the lipid metabolism in spinach leaves and thylakoid membranes

Abstract

The effects of lead and sodium acetate treatment on the lipid composition of leaves, thylakoid membranes and cell debris of spinach were investigated. The concentration of lead in leaves and cell debris was higher than that in thylakoid membranes, probably due to a protection of photosynthetic apparatus. The lead treatment lead to decrease of contents of monogalactosyl diacylglycerols and phospholipids and to increase of the other glycolipids in the thylakoid membranes. There were no statistically significant differences between the total lipids of thylakoid membranes after incubation with lead and sodium acetate, which was an indication that in this case the effect of metal ion was not specific.