A review of the biosynthesis of chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls from protoporphyrin IX with 235 references. The literature on the enzymes magnesium chelatase, S-adenosyl-L-methionine:magnesium protoporphyrin IX O-methyltransferase, magnesium-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester oxidative cyclase, protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase, chlorophyll synthase, bacteriochlorophyll synthase, protochlorophyllide 8-vinyl reductase and chlorophyll a oxidase from 1989 is discussed.