Genome-wide examination of chlorophyll metabolic genes in maize and phylogenetic analysis among different photosynthetic organisms

Chlorophyll (Chl) is the key pigment involved in photosynthesis. Analysis of the expression pattern of Chl metabolic genes will contribute to our understanding of photosynthesis. Also, the genes coding for Chl metabolism are ideal targets for revealing the evolution relationships of photosynthetic organisms. In this study, we summarized the Chl metabolic pathway in higher plants and conducted in silico expression analysis of related genes in maize. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the evolution of Chl metabolic genes proceeded in a certain direction. Moreover, the diversity of some rate-limiting enzymes might have played a positive role in the evolution of Chl metabolism.