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Chlorophylls and Bacteriochlorophylls pp 189–200Cite as

Biosynthesis of Chlorophylls a and b: The Last Steps

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Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 25))

Abstract

The last steps of chlorophylls (Chls) a and b biosynthesis comprise the formation of chlorophyllide (Chlide) a from protochlorophyllide (PChlide) a, the oxygenation of Chlide a to Chlide b, the esterification of Chlides to the corresponding Chls, and the reduction of b-type pigments to a-type pigments. Two separate pathways exist for the biosynthesis of Chls, a light-dependent and a light-independent (dark) pathway. The decisive step is the hydrogenation of PChlide a to Chlide a, catalyzed either by a light-dependent PChlide oxidoreductase (POR) or by a light-independent PChlide oxidoreductase (DPOR, D for dark). The conversion of a- to b-type pigments and conversely of b- to a-type pigments, the ‘chlorophyll cycle,’ presumably allows the plants to adjust the Chl a/b ratio to the environment: the reduction of Chl b to Chl a precedes the degradation of the b-type pigment. This chapter describes the last steps of Chl biosynthesis with emphasis on the enzymes that catalyze the individual steps: included are discussions of the corresponding genes and recombinant enzymes.

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  1. Botanisches Institut, Universität München, D-86038, München, Germany

    Wolfhart Rüdiger

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  1. Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany

    Bernhard Grimm

  2. CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia

    Robert J. Porra

  3. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany

    Wolfhart Rüdiger

  4. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany

    Hugo Scheer

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Rüdiger, W. (2006). Biosynthesis of Chlorophylls a and b: The Last Steps. In: Grimm, B., Porra, R.J., Rüdiger, W., Scheer, H. (eds) Chlorophylls and Bacteriochlorophylls. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 25. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4516-6_14

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