Effects of 5-aminolevulinate and N-methyl-protoporphyrin dimethyl ester on bacteriochlorophyll synthesis in aerobic bacteria.

Abstract

The aerobic bacteria, Erythrobacter longus and Roseobacter denitrificans, were examined for the effects of 5-aminolevulinate (ALA) and Nmethylprotoporphyrin dimethyl ester (NMPD) on bacteriochlorophyll (Bchl) synthesis. Although external ALA seemed to be incorporated into a tetrapyrrole synthetic pathway leading to Bchl synthesis, there was no increase of Bchl in either Ro. denitrificans or E. longus. With the addition of ALA, increased was protoporphyrin IX in Ro. denitrificans, or protoheme in E. longus. NMPD enhanced the Bchl synthesis in E. longus but not in Ro. denitrificans. It is likely that E. longus and Ro. denitrificans are different from each other in the regulatory mechanism of Bchl synthesis.

Photosystem II Assembly in CP47 Mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 Is Dependent on the Level of Chlorophyll Precursors Regulated by Ferrochelatase

“…A similar effect has been observed in other photosynthetic bacteria. In vivo inhibition of FeCH enhanced bacteriochlorophyll synthesis in the aerobic bacterium Erythrobacter longus (34) and led to the accumulation and excretion of Mg-proto IX in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides (35).…”