Protochlorophyllide reductase III: Synthesis of a protochlorophyllide-dihydroflavin complex

Article abstract of DOI:10.1111/j.1751-1097.1996.tb02998.x

A mild and efficient method of linking a dihydroflavin to the C-17 carboxylic acid side chain of protochlorophyllide, without degradation of the sensitive E ring or loss of magnesium, is described. The appended dihydroflavin was shown to quench the fluorescence of protochlorophyllide. In contrast, a dihydronicotinamide moiety was unable to effect fluorescence quenching. The relevance of these findings to a possible mechanism of action of the enzyme protochlorophyllide reductase is discussed.