Part:BBa_K1640018
CHlM
ChlM gene from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, encodes magnesium protoporphyrin IX methyltransferase, a protein involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis.
Usage and Biology
The autotrophic gene ChlM is involved in the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway in the formation of chlorophyll a (Meinecke et al. 2010). It encodes the enzyme magnesium protoporphyrin IX methyltransferase, involved in the second step of chlorophyll biosynthesis from protoporphyrin IX (Block et al, 2002). ChlM utilizes ubiquitous methylating agent S-Adenosyl-L-methionine as a cofactor in the catalysis of Mg-protoporphyrin IX through methyl group transfer, forming Mg-protoporyphyrin IX monomethyl ester (Gibson et al., 1963);
S-adenosyl-L-methionine + magnesium protoporphyrin IX ⇌ S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + magnesium protoporphyrin IX 13-methyl ester.