Molecular and functional characterization of a novel chromoplast-specific lycopene beta-cyclase from Citrus and its relation to lycopene accumulation.

ABSTRACT: Carotenoids are the main pigments responsible of the colouration of Citrus fruits. The beta-cyclization of lycopene, catalysed by the lycopene beta-cyclases (beta-LCY), seems to be a key regulatory step of the carotenoid pathway. In the present study, two beta-LCYs from orange fruits (Citrus sinensis), named Csbeta-LCY1 and Csbeta-LCY2 have been isolated and the activity of the encoded proteins was demonstrated by functional analysis. Csbeta-LCY1 was expressed at low levels and remained relatively constant during fruit ripening while Csbeta-LCY2 showed a chromoplast-specific expression and a marked induction in both peel and pulp of orange fruits in parallel with the accumulation of beta,beta-xanthophylls. The potential involvement of Csbeta-LCY2 in the accumulation of lycopene, characteri

SUBMITTER: Alquezar B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2671624 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature