Information on EC 1.3.1.80 - red chlorophyll catabolite reductase

Chlorophyll degradation is a characteristic symptom of leaf senescence and fruit ripening. The reaction catalysed by this enzyme requires reduced ferredoxin, which is generated either by NADPH through the pentose-phosphate pathway or by the action of photosystem I [1,2]. This reaction takes place without release of the substrate from EC 1.14.12.20, pheophorbide a oxygenase . Depending on the plant species used as the source of enzyme, one of two possible C-1 epimers of primary fluorescent chlorophyll catabolite (pFCC), pFCC-1 or pFCC-2, is normally formed, with all genera or species within a family producing the same isomer [3,4]. After modification and export, pFCCs are eventually imported into the vacuole, where the acidic environment causes their non-enzymic conversion into colourless breakdown products called non-fluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) .