Theme: The many Facets of chloroplasts – hosted by Dr. Juan Camilo Moreno Beltran

Abstract:
Internal membranes of plastids can adopt multiple structural configurations depending on the plant ontogenesis stage and aberrations in lipid-protein-pigment composition. I will present the structure-composition interplay in the self-organization and maintenance of cubic and lamellar arrangements. I will introduce the ultrastructural basis of membrane interconversions – from cubic prolamellar bodies of etioplasts to lamellar thylakoids of fully developed chloroplasts and finally, their possible transformation to large length-scale cubic assemblies. 2D and 3D ultrastructural analyses performed using novel analytical methods (e.g., SPIRE software) will be supplemented with biochemical and functional results.

Bio:
Dr. Łucja Kowalewska received her Ph.D. degree in Biology from the University of Warsaw in 2015 and is currently employed at the Faculty of Biology (University of Warsaw) in the Department of Plant Anatomy and Cytology as an Assistant Professor. In 2019 she was a visiting scientist at Copenhagen University developing interdisciplinary collaboration to study the basis of cubic membrane formation in plants.

She has combined expertise in 2D and 3D ultrastructural studies of plastids using TEM and electron tomography and in in vivo spatial studies of chloroplasts using confocal microscopy. She also supplements her structural studies with biochemical and biophysical analyses to reveal the connection between the structure and function of the internal plastid membrane network.

Visit the Spring Lecture Series webpage to view the full schedule and learn more about the upcoming lectures.