Intermediate metabolism of the chlorophyll {\it b\/} biosynthetic pathway

Chlorophylls are compounds of extreme importance in the biosphere. Despite intense studies for the past 100 years, chlorophyll biosynthesis remains a very active field of research.Although 2-MV Chl b is a major plant pigment, present in virtually all photosynthetic tissues of higher plants, investigations aimed at elucidating its biosynthetic origin have met with limited success for the past 50 years.In this Ph.D. thesis, the occurrence of 2-MV Pchlide b and 2-MV Pchlide b phytyl ester in green plants and the characterization of these molecules are described. Derivation of simultaneous equations for quantitative determination of 2-MV Pchlide b and 2-MV protochlorophyllide b phytyl ester by spectrofluorometry in unsegregated mixtures is also described. Several experimental systems capable of accumulating detectable amounts of 2-MV Pchlide b under laboratory conditions in vivo are presented.Another part of this Ph.D. thesis deals with precursor-product relationship investigations of 2-MV Chl b biosynthesis and the development of a cell-free system capable of the net biosynthesis and accumulation of 2-MV Chl b in the light.The work is concluded with three-dimensional (3-D) molecular modeling studies of 2-MV Pchlide a, 2-MV Pchlide b, 2-MV Chlide a, 2-MV Chlide b, 2-MV Chl a and 2-MV Chl b.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio