InterPro domain: IPR017395

Chlorophyllase (Chlase) is an enzyme involved in chlorophyll degradation and catalyses the hydrolysis of the ester bond to yield chlorophyllide and phytol [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. It is found in higher plants, green algae and diatoms [ 4 ]. It is important for de-greening processes such as fruit ripening, leaf senescence and flowering, as well as in the turnover and homeostasis of chlorophyll [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].

Chlase removes the lipophilic phytol moiety of chlorophyll [ 7 ]. It acts preferentially on chlorophyll a, but will also accept chlorophyll b and pheophytins as substrates [ 8 ]. Chlase functions as a rate-limiting enzyme in chlorophyll catabolism and is controlled via posttranslational regulation [ 9 ]. Ethylene and methyl jasmonate, which are known to accelerate senescence in many species, can enhance the activity of a form of Chlase [ 9 ].

This entry represents chloroplast-type Chlase.

1. Cloning of chlorophyllase, the key enzyme in chlorophyll degradation: finding of a lipase motif and the induction by methyl jasmonate. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96, 15362-7
2. Chlorophyllase 1, a damage control enzyme, affects the balance between defense pathways in plants. null 17, 282-94
3. Chlorophyllase is a rate-limiting enzyme in chlorophyll catabolism and is posttranslationally regulated. Plant Cell 19, 1007-22
4. Characterization and subcellular localization of chlorophyllase from Ginkgo biloba. Z. Naturforsch., C, J. Biosci. 61, 111-7
5. Citrus chlorophyllase dynamics at ethylene-induced fruit color-break: a study of chlorophyllase expression, posttranslational processing kinetics, and in situ intracellular localization. Plant Physiol. 148, 108-18
6. The senescence-induced staygreen protein regulates chlorophyll degradation. Plant Cell 19, 1649-64
7. The chlorophyllases AtCLH1 and AtCLH2 are not essential for senescence-related chlorophyll breakdown in Arabidopsis thaliana. FEBS Lett. 581, 5517-25
8. Chlorophyll degradation during senescence. Plant Cell 57, 55-77