Effects of moderately enhanced levels of ozone on the acyl lipid composition and dynamical properties of plasma membranes isolated from garden pea ( Pisum sativum )

Plasma membranes were isolated from leaves of 16‐day‐old garden pea, Pisum sativum L., that had been grown in the absence or presence of 65 nl l −1 ozone for 4 days prior to membrane isolation. Plasma membranes from ozone‐fumigated plants contained significantly more acyl lipids per protein than those from leaves of plants grown in filtered air on a molar/weight ratio. The ratio between the major acyl lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), also increased due to the ozone fumigation, while the fatty acid unsaturation level was unaltered in total plasma membrane acyl lipids, as well as in PC and PE. The amount of free sterols per protein was unaltered, but the percentage of campesterol increased, concomitant with a decrease in stigmasterol. The dynamical properties of the isolated plasma membranes were assessed using Laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy, which monitors water penetration and mobility at the hydrophilic‐hydrophobic interface of the membrane. At 0°C, the molecular mobility was slightly lower in plasma membranes from ozone‐fumigated plants than in plasma membranes from control plants, possibly reflecting the increased PE/PC, campesterol/stigmasterol and lipid/protein ratios, and suggesting that ozone‐fumigated pea plants may be more susceptible to freezing injuries.