Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 10
The Chl
a
Carboxylic Biosynthetic Routes:
Conversion of Chlide
a
to Chl
a
The first step in accomplishing anything is the belief that it can
be done.
Most of the chlorophyll
a
(Chl
a
) in higher and lower plants is formed by esterification
of chlorophyllide
a
(Chlide
a
)(Fig.
10.1
). A minor Chl
a
fraction esterified with
long chain fatty acids (LCFA) other than phytol is also formed from MV protochlo-
be placed on the biosynthetic heterogeneity of Chl
a
formed by esterification of
Chlide
a
with phytol.
10.1 Chlorophyll
a
Biosynthetic Heterogeneity
The biosynthetic heterogeneity of the Chl
a
of green plants is extremely complex.
In addition to the DV andMV chemical heterogeneity of the Chl
a
chromophore, and
the chemical and spatial biosynthetic heterogeneity of its immediate precursor,
the esterification process. Indeed, although in green plants, most of the Chl
a
is
esterified with phytol (C
20
H
39
OH), conversion of Chlide
a
to Chlide
a
-phytol
appears to follow different routes in etiolated and green tissues (
vide infra
).
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