A detailed investigation of the biosynthetic pathway leading from glutamate to delta-aminolevulinic acid, the earliest committed chlorophyll precursor in plants will be carried out. The topic is of current interest with the recent discovery of the involvement of a special chloroplast transfer RNA in this process. Using the techniques of molecular biology, protein biochemistry and enzymology, the genes for the enzymes and tRNAs involved in this process will be cloned and characterization in order to investigate in detail the mechanism of action and regulation of these molecules. The experimental systems will be the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, or barley. These studies should uncover novel principles regarding the role of RNA as a cofactor in metabolic conversions, and will be important to future programs in plant molecular biology.
