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Enzymatic Preparation of Tetrapyrrole Intermediates

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Heme, Chlorophyll, and Bilins

Part of the book series: Springer Protocols Handbooks ((SPH))

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Abstract

Tetrapyrroles are intensely colored natural products of vital importance in the biosphere for essential processes such as respiration and photosynthesis and are also of key importance as cofactors in a number of other enzyme reactions. Tetrapyrroles may either be linear in nature, as found in the bilins, or cyclic as in the hemes, chlorophylls, and corrins. In the cyclic tetrapyrrole group, the four centrally located pyrrole nitrogen atoms of the macrocyclic ring offer a range of possibilities for metal chelation. Modulation of the properties of the metal-lotetrapyrrole prosthetic groups by individual proteins give rise to a remarkably versatile family of powerful bio-organic reagents.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary Westfield College, London, England, UK

    Martin J. Warren

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, UK

    Peter M. Shoolingin-Jordan

Authors
  1. Martin J. Warren
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  2. Peter M. Shoolingin-Jordan
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Alison G. Smith

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Michael Witty

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© 2002 Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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Warren, M.J., Shoolingin-Jordan, P.M. (2002). Enzymatic Preparation of Tetrapyrrole Intermediates. In: Smith, A.G., Witty, M. (eds) Heme, Chlorophyll, and Bilins. Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-243-0:69

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-243-0:69

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-111-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-243-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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