Dear Colleagues,

Chlorophyll is a plant-specific tetrapyrrole that performs major roles in the light trapping and energy transduction processes during photosynthesis. It is synthesized from glutamate via a complex metabolic shunt comprising 16 reactions taking place in the chloroplast. Much progress has been made to define these steps and characterize the genes and enzymes controlling chlorophyll biosynthesis. Key regulatory steps of chlorophyll biosynthesis in higher plants involve 5-aminolevulinic acid formation, the production of Mg²⁺-protoporphyrin IX, and the light-dependent reduction of protochlorophyllide (Pchlide). Light-dependent and light-independent Pchlide reductases haven been identified in nature, and their characterization has provided important insights into the evolution of chlorophyll biosynthesis. Because both linear and cyclic tetrapyrroles are highly reactive and can trigger the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the biosynthesis of chlorophyll must be tightly regulated in time and space such that no damage occurs to cellular and subcellular structures. It is the aim of this Special Issue to summarize our current knowledge of the genes and enzymes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis and what strategies living organisms have evolved to cope with the undesired, potentially harmful effects of these tetrapyrrole compounds.

Prof. Dr. Steffen Reinbothe
Guest Editor

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• Tetrapyrrole synthesis 
• Chloroplast development 
• C5-pathway enzymes 
• Enzyme structure and function 
• Gene regulation