Redox regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis

Chlorophyll captures and redirects light-energy and is essential for photosynthetic organisms. The Mg-chelatase which is situated at the branch point between the heme and the chlorophyll pathway fulfill a very important regulatory role and recent evidence suggests that the redox state of the chloroplast might be yet another regulator. A recently identified NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase (NTRC) might be involved in this redox regulation or, alternatively, protection of chlorophyll biosynthetic enzymes.