The lycopene β-cyclase plays a significant role in provitamin A biosynthesis in wheat endosperm.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lycopene β-cyclase (LCYB) is a key enzyme catalyzing the biosynthesis of β-carotene, the main source of provitamin A. However, there is no documented research about this key cyclase gene's function and relationship with β-carotene content in wheat. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to clone TaLCYB and characterize its function and relationship with β-carotene biosynthesis in wheat grains. We also aimed to obtain more information about the endogenous carotenoid biosynthetic pathway and thus provide experimental support for carotenoid metabolic engineering in wheat.

Results

In the present study, a lycopene β-cyclase gene, designated TaLCYB, was cloned from the hexaploid wheat cultivar Chinese Spring. The cyclization activity of the encoded protein was dem

SUBMITTER: Zeng J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4433027 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature