Chlorophyll breakdown in oilseed rape

Chlorophyll catabolism accompanying leaf senescence is one of the most spec tacular natural phenomena. Despite this fact, the metabolism of chlorophyll has been largely neglegted until recently. Oilseed rape has been used exte nsively as a model plant for the recent elucidating of structures of chloro phyll catabolites and for investigation of the enzymic reactions of the chl orophyll breakdown pathway. The key reaction which causes loss of green col or is catalyzed in a two-step reaction by pheophorbide a oxygenase and red chlorophyll catabolite reductase. In this Minireview, we summarize the actu al knowledge about catabolites and enzymes of chlorophyll catabolism in oil seed rape and discuss the significance of this pathway in respect to chloro phyll degradation during Brassica napus seed development.