The most likely answer is no. The reason for this is the lack of proper enzymes to catalyze the insertion of metals into the protoporphyrin. Mammals possess an enzyme known as ferrochelatase, which inserts iron into protoporphyrin and is the last step in heme synthesis. In contrast, plants have a different enzyme known as magnesium chelatase that performs a similar function for magnesium, which creates the mg-protoporphyrin and is the beginning step of chlorophyll synthesis. Moreover, even if mammals were able to make mg-protoporphyrin, they do not have the enzymes necessary to create the entire chlorophyll molecule and chloroplast, thus photosynthesis would not occur.

~Adam

The most likely answer is no. The reason for this is the lack of proper enzymes to catalyze the insertion of metals into the protoporphyrin. Mammals possess an enzyme known as ferrochelatase, which inserts iron into protoporphyrin and is the last step in heme synthesis. In contrast, plants have a different enzyme known as magnesium chelatase that performs a similar function for magnesium, which creates the mg-protoporphyrin and is the beginning step of chlorophyll synthesis. Moreover, even if mammals were able to make mg-protoporphyrin, they do not have the enzymes necessary to create the entire chlorophyll molecule and chloroplast, thus photosynthesis would not occur.

~Adam

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your answer. Your answer is reasonably good and I must appreciate that quickly you have come with the answer.

We have got 37 views within these 20 days; however, no more answer to the question. In fact, it is not a question- answer session, rather there is a Question and discussion board.

Let me again initiate the discussion and at the same time respond to your answer. Researchers have discovered bacteria (see the attached research news) which can digest the sugars on blood group antigens and all the blood groups (ABO) are converted to O group, there by making 'Universal RBC'; therefore there is a probability of discovering bacteria in near future which might have ferrochelatase and aid in insertion of Fe in to protoporphyrin.

Now question comes on chlorophyll biosynthesis. Can the chloroplastic DNA be transferred to animal cell and in such a case how far we can travel in our efforts to make animal cells carry out photosynthesis?

Bimal

Hi Adam,

It is a long time we discussed it. Can we think of the reverse it. Can the plants be transferred the ferrochelatase gene to synthesize hemoglobin!

Bimal

There must be a ferrochelatase enzyme in plants, if not chloroplasts, since they possess mitochondria with heme-containing cytochromes.

Why no hemoglobin then! It is a matter of incorporating Mg or Fe at the final step only.