REVIEW: Pathways of Formation of Pigment Forms at the Terminal Photobiochemical Stage of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis

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O. B. Belyaeva^* and F. F. Litvin

Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; E-mail: olgabelyaeva@mail.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received May 13, 2009; Revision received May 22, 2009

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The pathways of transformation of the chromophore of pigment–protein complexes have been studied at the terminal light-dependent stage of chlorophyll biosynthesis in plant leaves. The overall scheme of the sequence of photochemical and dark reactions of the pigment chromophore initiated by the reaction of photochemical hydration of a molecule of the precursor (protochlorophyllide) is presented. Schemes of the transformations of the components of the photoactive protochlorophyllide-oxidoreductase complex are discussed. Data are presented of features of the process at different stages of the formation of the pigment apparatus of plants.

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KEY WORDS: chlorophyll, chlorophyll biosynthesis, protochlorophyllide, protochlorophyllide-oxidoreductase, photosystems

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297909130070

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