AUTHOR=Siebenaller Carmen , Junglas Benedikt , Schneider Dirk TITLE=Functional Implications of Multiple IM30 Oligomeric States JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science VOLUME=10 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.01500 DOI=10.3389/fpls.2019.01500 ISSN=1664-462X ABSTRACT=

The inner membrane-associated protein of 30 kDa (IM30), also known as the vesicle-inducing protein in plastids 1 (Vipp1), is essential for photo-autotrophic growth of cyanobacteria, algae and higher plants. While its exact function still remains largely elusive, it is commonly accepted that IM30 is crucially involved in thylakoid membrane biogenesis, stabilization and/or maintenance. A characteristic feature of IM30 is its intrinsic propensity to form large homo-oligomeric protein complexes. 15 years ago, it has been reported that these supercomplexes have a ring-shaped structure. However, the in vivo significance of these ring structures is not finally resolved yet and the formation of more complex assemblies has been reported. We here present and discuss research on IM30 conducted within the past 25 years with a special emphasis on the question of why we potentially need IM30 supercomplexes in vivo.