Ferrochelatase activity in the photosynthetic alga Cyanidium caldarium. Development of the enzyme during biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments.

Abstract

Dark-grown cells of the photosynthetic alga Cyanidium caldarium were shown to contain ferrochelatase activity, which increased markedly when the cells were induced to form pigments by exposure to light. Km values for the crude enzyme preparation were 14.8 microM and 6.5 microM for binding of Co2+ and deuteroporphyrin IX respectively.