The Phytoene synthase gene family of apple (Malus x domestica) and its role in controlling fruit carotenoid content.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Carotenoid compounds play essential roles in plants such as protecting the photosynthetic apparatus and in hormone signalling. Coloured carotenoids provide yellow, orange and red colour to plant tissues, as well as offering nutritional benefit to humans and animals. The enzyme phytoene synthase (PSY) catalyses the first committed step of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway and has been associated with control of pathway flux. We characterised four PSY genes found in the apple genome to further understand their involvement in fruit carotenoid accumulation.

Results

The apple PSY gene family, containing six members, was predicted to have three functional members, PSY1, PSY2, and PSY4, based on translation of the predicted gene sequences and/or corresponding cDNAs. Ho

SUBMITTER: Ampomah-Dwamena C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4517366 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature