title: Breakdown of Chlorophyll in Higher Plants--Phyllobilins as Abundant, Yet Hardly Visible Signs of Ripening, Senescence, and Cell Death.
abstract: Fall colors have always been fascinating and are still a remarkably puzzling phenomenon associated with the breakdown of chlorophyll (Chl) in leaves. As discovered in recent years, nongreen bilin-type Chl catabolites are generated, which are known as the phyllobilins. Collaborative chemical-biological efforts have led to the elucidation of the key Chl-breakdown processes in senescent leaves and in ripening fruit. Colorless and largely photoinactive phyllobilins are rapidly produced from Chl, apparently primarily as part of a detoxification program. However, fluorescent Chl catabolites accumulate in some senescent leaves and in peels of ripe bananas and induce a striking blue glow. The structural features, chemical properties, and abundance of the phyllobilins in the biosphere suggest biological roles, which still remain to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry & Center of Molecular Biosciences (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria. bernhard.kraeutler@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2222-0587
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kräutler
mesh_terms: D001654:Bile Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001654:Bile Pigments; D002734:Chlorophyll
keywords: biodegradation; chlorophyll; metabolism; natural product; plants