查看文章

Carotenoids are isoprenoid pigments synthesised by plants, algae, photosynthetic bacteria as well as some non-photosynthetic bacteria, fungi and insects. Abundant carotenoids found in nature are synthesised via a linear route from phytoene to lycopene after which the pathway bifurcates into cyclised α- and β-carotenes. Plants evolved additional steps to generate a diversity of cis-carotene intermediates, which can accumulate in fruits or tissues exposed to an extended period of darkness. Enzymatic or oxidative cleavage, light-mediated photoisomerization and histone modifications can affect cis-carotene accumulation. cis-carotene accumulation has been linked to the production of signaling metabolites that feedback and forward to regulate nuclear gene expression. When cis-carotenes accumulate, plastid biogenesis and operational control can become impaired. Carotenoid derived metabolites and …