Tetrapyrrole Biosynthesis in Higher Plants

Tetrapyrroles play vital roles in various biological processes, including photosynthesis and respiration. Higher plants contain four classes of tetrapyrroles, namely, chlorophyll, heme, siroheme, and phytochromobilin. All of the tetrapyrroles are derived from a common biosynthetic pathway. Here we r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of plant biology 2007-01, Vol.58 (1), p.321-346
Main Authors: Tanaka, R, Tanaka, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
abscisic acid
Apoproteins - metabolism
Apoptosis
biochemical pathways
Biosynthesis
Botany
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll - metabolism
enzymatic reactions
enzymes
Flowers & plants
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Genetic Engineering
Genetics
heme
Heme - analogs & derivatives
Heme - metabolism
heterocyclic nitrogen compounds
interactions
literature reviews
Models, Biological
Photosynthesis
physiological regulation
Plants - genetics
Plants - metabolism
plastids
proteins
Signal Transduction
siroheme
Tetrapyrroles - biosynthesis
Tetrapyrroles - chemistry
Tetrapyrroles - genetics
transcription (genetics)
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Summary:Tetrapyrroles play vital roles in various biological processes, including photosynthesis and respiration. Higher plants contain four classes of tetrapyrroles, namely, chlorophyll, heme, siroheme, and phytochromobilin. All of the tetrapyrroles are derived from a common biosynthetic pathway. Here we review recent progress in the research of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis from a cellular biological view. The progress consists of biochemical, structural, and genetic analyses, which contribute to our understanding of how the flow and the synthesis of tetrapyrrole molecules are regulated and how the potentially toxic intermediates of tetrapyrrole synthesis are maintained at low levels. We also describe interactions of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and other cellular processes including the stay-green events, the cell-death program, and the plastid-to-nucleus signal transduction. Finally, we present several reports on attempts for agricultural and horticultural applications in which the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis pathway was genetically modified.
ISSN:1543-5008
1040-2519
1545-2123
DOI:10.1146/annurev.arplant.57.032905.105448