Chlorophyll synthase

In enzymology, chlorophyll synthase (EC 2.5.1.62) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

chlorophyllide a + phytyl diphosphate ${\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }$ chlorophyll a + diphosphate

The two substrates of this enzyme are chlorophyllide a and phytyl diphosphate; its two products are chlorophyll a and diphosphate. The same enzyme can act on chlorophyllide b to form chlorophyll b and similarly for chlorophyll d and f.^[1]

• Structures of the main substrate and product of the enzyme
• 
  Chlorophyllide a
• 
  Chlorophyll a

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those transferring aryl or alkyl groups other than methyl groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is chlorophyllide-a:phytyl-diphosphate phytyltransferase. This reaction is the final step of the complete biosynthetic pathway to chlorophylls from glutamic acid.^[2][3]

See also

• Biosynthesis of chlorophylls

References

Further reading