Question

Shock buffer that contain 90mM Nacl, 1mM MgCL2, and 30 mM MOPS

how is this buffer designed to osmotically burst the chloroplast double membrane in order to isolate the thylakoid membranes

please explain in cellular level

Answer 1

We all know that chloroplast is a type of organelle known as a plastid which is characterized by its two membranes and a high concentration of chlorophyll.These are highly dynamic and circulate and are moved around within plant cells.

The thylakoid system is suspended within the stroma of chloroplast. These are small interconnected sacks which contain the membranes that the light reactions of photosynthesis take place on.

There are so many processes used in isolation and fractioning of thylakoids from chloroplast.

Here, shock buffer is designed to do the same. That means the condition maintained over here is hypoosmolality. In above designed buffer Mgcl2 , NaCl works in changing the osmolal gradient within the cell. MOPS can modify lipid interactions and influence the thickness and barrier properties of membranes. For that the integrity of the peripheral membrane actually hampers a lot.On regarding the osmotic mismatch between the inside as well as outside of the cellular environment, osmotic brust may occur, that will ultimately leads to thylakoid isolation completely.