Comprehensive study of chlorophyll metabolism based on enzyme identification

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H04381
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: TANAKA Ayumi 北海道大学, 低温科学研究所, 特任教授 (10197402)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAKABAYASHI ATSUSHI 北海道大学, 低温科学研究所, 助教 (90546417) ; ITO HISASHI 北海道大学, 低温科学研究所, 助教 (50596608)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 色素体機能 / 光合成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Despite its importance, Mg-dechelatase that catalyzes the first step of chlorophyll degradation pathway was not identified. In this study, we found that Mg-dechelatase is encoded by SGR gene and the dechelating activity was successfully measured with the recombinant protein expressed in E. coli. We also found that substrate specificity differs between SGR1 and SGRL. By these studies, all major enzymes of the chlorophyll metabolic pathway were finally identified. Furthermore, it was revealed that SGR can catalyze not only free chlorophyll but also chlorophyll bound to protein, thus playing a central role in the degradation of chlorophyll-binding proteins and photosystems.

Free Research Field

植物生理学