Cazzonelli Christopher I
Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Building 134, Linnaeus Way, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Email.
Funct Plant Biol. 2011 Nov;38(11):833-847. doi: 10.1071/FP11192.
Carotenoids are natural isoprenoid pigments that provide leaves, fruits, vegetables and flowers with distinctive yellow, orange and some reddish colours as well as several aromas in plants. Their bright colours serve as attractants for pollination and seed dispersal. Carotenoids comprise a large family of C40 polyenes and are synthesised by all photosynthetic organisms, aphids, some bacteria and fungi alike. In animals carotenoid derivatives promote health, improve sexual behaviour and are essential for reproduction. As such, carotenoids are commercially important in agriculture, food, health and the cosmetic industries. In plants, carotenoids are essential components required for photosynthesis, photoprotection and the production of carotenoid-derived phytohormones, including ABA and strigolactone. The carotenoid biosynthetic pathway has been extensively studied in a range of organisms providing an almost complete pathway for carotenogenesis. A new wave in carotenoid biology has revealed implications for epigenetic and metabolic feedback control of carotenogenesis. Developmental and environmental signals can regulate carotenoid gene expression thereby affecting carotenoid accumulation. This review highlights mechanisms controlling (1) the first committed step in phytoene biosynthesis, (2) flux through the branch to synthesis of α- and β-carotenes and (3) metabolic feedback signalling within and between the carotenoid, MEP and ABA pathways.
类胡萝卜素是天然的类异戊二烯色素，赋予叶片、果实、蔬菜和花朵独特的黄色、橙色以及某些植物中的红色，同时还具有多种香气。它们鲜艳的颜色可作为授粉和种子传播的吸引物。类胡萝卜素是一个由C40多烯组成的大家族，所有光合生物、蚜虫、一些细菌和真菌都能合成。在动物中，类胡萝卜素衍生物可促进健康、改善性行为，并且对繁殖至关重要。因此，类胡萝卜素在农业、食品、健康和化妆品行业具有重要的商业价值。在植物中，类胡萝卜素是光合作用、光保护以及包括脱落酸（ABA）和独脚金内酯在内的类胡萝卜素衍生植物激素产生所必需的成分。类胡萝卜素生物合成途径已在一系列生物体中得到广泛研究，几乎提供了类胡萝卜素生成的完整途径。类胡萝卜素生物学的新进展揭示了对类胡萝卜素生成的表观遗传和代谢反馈控制的影响。发育和环境信号可调节类胡萝卜素基因表达，从而影响类胡萝卜素的积累。本综述重点介绍了控制（1）八氢番茄红素生物合成的第一个关键步骤，（2）通过分支合成α-和β-胡萝卜素的通量，以及（3）类胡萝卜素、MEP和ABA途径内及之间的代谢反馈信号的机制。
