| Type: | Family | Name: | Chlorophyllase |
| Description: | Chlorophyllase (Chlase) is an enzyme involved in chlorophyll degradation and catalyses the hydrolysis of the ester bond to yield chlorophyllide and phytol [, , ]. It is found in higher plants, green algae and diatoms []. 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 [, , ]. Chlase removes the lipophilic phytol moiety of chlorophyll []. It acts preferentially on chlorophyll a, but will also accept chlorophyll b and pheophytins as substrates []. Chlase functions as a rate-limiting enzyme in chlorophyll catabolism and is controlled via posttranslational regulation []. Ethylene and methyl jasmonate, which are known to accelerate senescence in many species, can enhance the activity of a form of Chlase [].This entry represents chloroplast-type Chlase. | Short Name: | Chlorophyllase |
