Chlorophyllase Activity of Spinach Chloroplastin

Abstract

A method for the assay of chlorophyllase is described. The enzyme has been shown to be present in the chlorophyll-containing component of cytochrome c photooxidase of spinach leaves in sufficient quantity to suggest that all the chlorophyllase of the mature leaf may be present in a chlorophyll-lipoprotein complex. The chlorophyllase of digitonin-solubilized chloroplastin has no hydrolytic effect on the chlorophyll bound to lipoprotein in the preparation, but acts only after the chlorophyll has been separated by suitable organic solvents.