Bacteriochlorophyll-c formation via the glutamate C-5 pathway in Chlorobium bacteria

Using carbon-14 and carbon-13 labelled glycine and glutamate, biosynthesis of δ-aminolevulinic acid in Chlorobium vibrioforme(strain D), a bacteriochlorophyll-c producing bacterium, is shown to proceed via the so-called C-5 pathway; glycine is incorporated into the bacteriochlorophylls-c, but only into the meso-methyl and 4- and 5-side-chains by way of methionine.