Biochemistry and Regulation of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis

Abstract

Chlorophylls and their derivatives play an important role in the light absorption and energy transduction processes of photosynthesis, as well as participate in numerous other metabolic and catabolic activities taking place within the cell. Over the past several years there has been a considerable advancement in our understanding of the biochemistry and genetic regulation of chlorophyll formation. Genes encoding many of the enzymes of the two biosynthetic pathways have been isolated and their nucleotide and encoded primary protein sequences determined. Such molecular analysis has greatly facilitated the detailed examination of how enzyme synthesis and activity are regulated throughout development and under a variety of different growth and environmental conditions. It has also led to new insights into the reaction mechanisms and specificity of several key enzymes in these processes. In this chapter, we present an overview of chlorophyll biosynthesis in the algae, drawing upon work carried out in a wide range of organisms in order to better illustrate features of the biosynthetic process in question or to highlight important differences among species.