Chlorophyll catabolism in Prunus serrulata autumnal leaves

Chlorophyll Catabolites in Senescent Leaves of the Plum Tree (Prunus domestica)

In cold extracts of senescent leaves of the plum tree (Prunus domestica ssp. domestica), six colorless non-fluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) were characterized, named Pd-NCCs. In addition, several minor NCC fractions were tentatively classified. The structure of the most polar one of the NCCs, named Pd-NCC-32, featured an unprecedented twofold glycosidation pattern. Three of the NCCs a...

Analysis of the chlorophyll catabolism pathway in leaves of an introgression senescence mutant of Lolium temulentum.

Pigments, proteins and enzyme activity related to chlorophyll catabolism were analysed in senescing leaves of wild-type (WT) Lolium temulentum and compared with those of an introgression line carrying a mutant gene from stay-green (SG) Festuca pratensis. During senescence of WT leaves chlorophylls a and b were continuously catabolised to colourless products and no other derivatives were observe...

Chlorophyll Breakdown in Senescent Banana Leaves: Catabolism Reprogrammed for Biosynthesis of Persistent Blue Fluorescent Tetrapyrroles

Chlorophyll breakdown is a visual phenomenon of leaf senescence and fruit ripening. It leads to the formation of colorless chlorophyll catabolites, a group of (chlorophyll-derived bilin-type) linear tetrapyrroles. Here, analysis and structure elucidation of the chlorophyll breakdown products in leaves of banana (Musa acuminata) is reported. In senescent leaves of this monocot all chlorophyll ca...

Analysis of Proteins Involved in Chlorophyll Catabolism:

Chlorophyll Breakdown in Senescent Leaves.

The biosynthetic pathway of Chl, probably the most important pigment in the biosphere, has been studied in considerable detail and is mentioned in plant physiology textbooks. Oddly enough, however, the breakdown of Chl is barely mentioned. Yet, as pointed out by Hendry et al. (1987), an estimated one billion tons of Chl are broken down every year, seemingly without leaving a trace. The only enz...