Regulation of the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway leading to heme and chlorophyll in plants and cyanobacteria

Dmitrii V. Vavilin, Willem Vermaas

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

Photosynthetic organisms synthesize chlorophylls, hemes, and bilin pigments via a common tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway. This review summarizes current knowledge about the regulation of this pathway in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Particular emphasis is placed on the regulation of glutamate-1-semialdehyde formation and on the channelling of protoporphyrin IX into the heme and chlorophyll branches. The potential role of chlorophyll molecules that are not bound to photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes ('free chlorophylls') or of other Mg-containing porphyrins in regulation of tetrapyrrole synthesis is also discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9-24
Number of pages16
JournalPhysiologia Plantarum
Volume115
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Genetics
  • Plant Science
  • Cell Biology

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