The Chl b Biosynthetic Pathway:Intermediary Metabolism - Chlorophyll Biosynthesis and Technological Applications - page 289

Fig. 13.5 MV Chlide b biosynthesis via route 9 in DDV-LDV-LDDV plant species (Adapted
from Fig. 6.3 of Chap. 6 )
b to the extent of about 1.00 nmoles per gram of fresh leaves (C. A. Rebeiz,
unpublished). DV Chlide b may also be present in the prochlorophyte picoplankton
of the subtropical waters of the North Atlantic as well as in the picoplankton of the
euphotic zone of the world tropical and temperate oceans, and the Mediterranean
sea, where DV Chl a and b are the predominant Chl species (Chisholm et al. 1988 ,
1992 ; Goerike and Repeta 1992 ; Veldhuis and Kraay 1990 ). DV Chlide b exhibits
the same electronic spectroscopic properties as DV Chl b (see below) but differs
from the latter by its solubility in organic solvents and its chromatographic mobility
(Fig. 13.7 ).
Conversion of DV Pchlide a to DV Chlide b via DV Chlide a , is suggested by the
absence of DV Pchlide b occurrence in the Nec 2 corn mutant which forms and
accumulate only DV Chl a and DV Chl b . The establishment of precursor- product
relationships in-vivo and in-vitro is required however, to validate the operation of
route 6 in the Nec 2 corn mutant and the picoplankton of the euphotic zone of the
world tropical and temperate oceans, and the Mediterranean sea.