Characterization and Properties of a Protochlorophyllide Ester in Leaves of Dark Grown Barley with Geranylgeraniol as Esterifying Alcohol

The protochlorophyllide ester isolated from dark grown barley leaves was shown to contain geranylgeraniol as esterifying alcohol. No phytylester was found. The qualitative analyses were performed with combined gas chromatography‐mass spec‐trometry. Chromatographic separation and spectrofluorometric determination of the protochlorophyll and chlorophyll pigments before and after irradiation of the dark grown leaves with light flashes at 2°C showed that part of the protochlorophyllide ester was photoconverted to chlorophyll a.