Chlorophyll degradation

Although the loss of green color in senescent leaves and ripening fruits is a spectacular natural phenomenon, research on chlorophyll breakdown has bee n largely neglected until recently. This review summarizes knowledge about the fate of chlorophyll in degreening tissues that has been gained during t he past few years. Structures of end- and intermediary products of degradat ion as well as the biochemistry of the porphyrin-cleaving reaction have bee n elucidated. The intracellular localization of the catabolic pathway is pa rticularly important in the regulation of chlorophyll breakdown. None of th e genes encoding the related catabolic enzymes has so far been isolated, wh ich makes chlorophyll degradation an area of opportunity for future researc h.