Abstract
In higher plants, chlorophyll a is converted to chlorophyl b through 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b returns to chlorophyll a again through 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a. This conversion system is called chlorophyll cycle.
With the aim of identifying the enzymes and the regulatory factors that are involved in chlorophyll cycle, we have carried out screening EMS-mutagenized Arabidopsis thaliana. We isolated a mutant that accumulated 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a.7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a accumulated more than 10 times in this mutant compared with wild type during 3-day-dark-induced senescence. 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll a accumulated more than several times without dark-induced senescence. The size of this mutant was smaller than that of wild type, and its leaves were softer and paler than those of wild type. We found that this mutated phenotype was recessive.
Currently, fine mapping of this gene is being undertaken.
