The mechanisms of membrane deterioration and disassembly during senescence

Membrane deterioration is an integral feature of plant senescence and results from the catabolism of membrane lipids and proteins. The concerted action of lipolytic enzymes such as phospholipase D, phosphatidate phosphatase, lipolytic acyl hydrolase and lipoxygenase causes the decline in membrane lipid content. Neutral lipids formed during degradation of membrane phospholipids induce the physicochemical changes in membrane properties observed during senescence, that include the formation of gel phase, decrease in bulk lipid fluidity, and increase in transition temperature, leading to the loss of compartmentation