The main objective of this work was to compare activity of chlorophyllase (chlase) in green and non-green sectors of leaves. Our results show that various plants exhibited different abilities and specificities with regard to chlases. Large variations in chlase activity existed in seven all-green plants, and Pachira macrocarpa contained significantly higher chlase activity compared to the other plants. The chlase activity was detected in both non-green and green sectors of the leaves; however, non-green parts had significantly higher chlase activity than did green parts in most of the variegated plants. Most of the chlases in all-green and variegated plants exhibited higher substrate preference toward the chl b than chl a. The activity and localization of chlase in P. macrocarpa were higher in chloroplast envelope membrane fractions than thylakoid fractions. (c) 2012 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
