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Brychkova G, de Oliveira CL, Gomes LAA, de Souza Gomes M, Fort A, Esteves-Ferreira AA, Sulpice R, McKeown PC, Spillane C. Regulation of Carotenoid Biosynthesis and Degradation in Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) from Seedlings to Harvest. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10310. [PMID: 37373458 PMCID: PMC10298985 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the commercially important leafy vegetables worldwide. However, lettuce cultivars vary widely in their carotenoid concentrations at the time of harvest. While the carotenoid content of lettuce can depend on transcript levels of key biosynthetic enzymes, genes that can act as biomarkers for carotenoid accumulation at early stages of plant growth have not been identified. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis was performed on the inner and outer leaves of the six cultivars at different developmental stages to identify gene-to-metabolite networks affecting the accumulation of two key carotenoids, β-carotene and lutein. Statistical analysis, including principal component analysis, was used to better understand variations in carotenoid concentration between leaf age and cultivars. Our results demonstrate that key enzymes of carotenoid biosynthesis pathway can alter lutein and β-carotene biosynthesis across commercial cultivars. To ensure high carotenoids content in leaves, the metabolites sink from β-carotene and lutein to zeaxanthin, and subsequently, abscisic acid needs to be regulated. Based on 2-3-fold carotenoids increase at 40 days after sowing (DAS) as compared to the seedling stage, and 1.5-2-fold decline at commercial stage (60 DAS) compared to the 40 DAS stage, we conclude that the value of lettuce for human nutrition would be improved by use of less mature plants, as the widely-used commercial stage is already at plant senescence stage where carotenoids and other essential metabolites are undergoing degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Brychkova
- Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, Agriculture, Food Systems & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, H91 REW4 Galway, Ireland; (C.L.d.O.)
| | - Cleiton Lourenço de Oliveira
- Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, Agriculture, Food Systems & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, H91 REW4 Galway, Ireland; (C.L.d.O.)
- Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras (DAG/ESAL), Aquenta Sol, Lavras 37200-000, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Matheus de Souza Gomes
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Institute of Genetics and Biochemistry, Campus Patos de Minas, Federal University of Uberlandia, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 230, Patos de Minas 38700-103, MG, Brazil
| | - Antoine Fort
- Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, Agriculture, Food Systems & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, H91 REW4 Galway, Ireland; (C.L.d.O.)
- Department of Life & Physical Science, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, N37 HD68 Athlone, Ireland
| | - Alberto Abrantes Esteves-Ferreira
- Plant Systems Biology Laboratory, Agriculture, Food Systems & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, H91 REW4 Galway, Ireland
| | - Ronan Sulpice
- Plant Systems Biology Laboratory, Agriculture, Food Systems & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, H91 REW4 Galway, Ireland
| | - Peter C. McKeown
- Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, Agriculture, Food Systems & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, H91 REW4 Galway, Ireland; (C.L.d.O.)
| | - Charles Spillane
- Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory, Agriculture, Food Systems & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, H91 REW4 Galway, Ireland; (C.L.d.O.)
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Zhao Z, Liu Z, Mao X. Biotechnological Advances in Lycopene β-Cyclases. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:11895-11907. [PMID: 33073992 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c04814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lycopene β-cyclase is one of the key enzymes in the biosynthesis of carotenoids, which catalyzes the β-cyclization of both ends of lycopene to produce β-carotene. Lycopene β-cyclases are found in a wide range of sources, mainly plants and microorganisms. Lycopene β-cyclases have been extensively studied for their important catalytic activity, including for use in genetic engineering to modify plants and microorganisms, as a blocking target for lycopene industrial production strains, and for their genetic and physiological effects related to microorganic and plant biological traits. This review of lycopene β-cyclases summarizes the major studies on their basic classification, functional activity, metabolic engineering, and plant science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zilong Zhao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xiangzhao Mao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
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Rebelo BA, Farrona S, Ventura MR, Abranches R. Canthaxanthin, a Red-Hot Carotenoid: Applications, Synthesis, and Biosynthetic Evolution. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:E1039. [PMID: 32824217 PMCID: PMC7463686 DOI: 10.3390/plants9081039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids are a class of pigments with a biological role in light capture and antioxidant activities. High value ketocarotenoids, such as astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, are highly appealing for applications in human nutraceutical, cosmetic, and animal feed industries due to their color- and health-related properties. In this review, recent advances in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology towards the production of ketocarotenoids, in particular the red-orange canthaxanthin, are highlighted. Also reviewed and discussed are the properties of canthaxanthin, its natural producers, and various strategies for its chemical synthesis. We review the de novo synthesis of canthaxanthin and the functional β-carotene ketolase enzyme across organisms, supported by a protein-sequence-based phylogenetic analysis. Various possible modifications of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway and the present sustainable cost-effective alternative platforms for ketocarotenoids biosynthesis are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara A. Rebelo
- Plant Cell Biology Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
| | - Sara Farrona
- Plant and AgriBiosciences Centre, Ryan Institute, NUI Galway, H19 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - M. Rita Ventura
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
| | - Rita Abranches
- Plant Cell Biology Laboratory, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
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Abstract
Carotenoids are the most important biocolor isoprenoids responsible for yellow, orange and red colors found in nature. In plants, they are synthesized in plastids of photosynthetic and sink organs and are essential molecules for photosynthesis, photo-oxidative damage protection and phytohormone synthesis. Carotenoids also play important roles in human health and nutrition acting as vitamin A precursors and antioxidants. Biochemical and biophysical approaches in different plants models have provided significant advances in understanding the structural and functional roles of carotenoids in plants as well as the key points of regulation in their biosynthesis. To date, different plant models have been used to characterize the key genes and their regulation, which has increased the knowledge of the carotenoid metabolic pathway in plants. In this chapter a description of each step in the carotenoid synthesis pathway is presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia Stange
- Centro de Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Santiago, Chile
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Gao H, Zhu H, Shao Y, Chen A, Lu C, Zhu B, Luo Y. Lycopene accumulation affects the biosynthesis of some carotenoid-related volatiles independent of ethylene in tomato. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2008; 50:991-996. [PMID: 18713349 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2008.00685.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
For elucidating the regulatory mechanism of ethylene on carotenoid-related volatiles (open chain) compounds and the relationship between lycopene and carotenoid-related volatiles, transgenic tomato fruits in which ACC synthase was suppressed were used. The transgenic tomato fruit showed a significant reduction of lycopene and aroma volatiles with low ethylene production. 6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol and geranylacetone, which were suspected to be lycopene degradation products, were lower than those in wild type tomato fruits. In order to identify whether lycopene accumulation effects the biosynthesis of some carotenoid-related volatiles independent of ethylene in tomato or not, the capability of both wild type and transgenic tomato fruits discs to convert lycopene into carotenoid-related volatiles was evaluated. The data showed that external lycopene could convert into 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol in vivo, indicating that the strong inhibition of ethylene production had no effect on enzymes in the biosynthesis pathway of some carotenoid-related volatiles. Therefore, in ACS-suppression transgenic tomato fruits, the low levels of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol was due to decreased lycopene accumulation, not ethylene production. Ethylene only affected the accumulation of lycopene, and then indirectly influenced the level of lycopene-related volatiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Gao
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
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Cuttriss AJ, Chubb AC, Alawady A, Grimm B, Pogson BJ. Regulation of lutein biosynthesis and prolamellar body formation in Arabidopsis. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2007; 34:663-672. [PMID: 32689394 DOI: 10.1071/fp07034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2007] [Accepted: 05/09/2007] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids are critical for photosynthetic function in chloroplasts, and are essential for the formation of the prolamellar body in the etioplasts of dark-grown (etiolated) seedlings. They are also precursors for plant hormones in both types of plastids. Lutein is one of the most abundant carotenoids found in both plastids. In this study we examine the regulation of lutein biosynthesis and investigate the effect of perturbing carotenoid biosynthesis on the formation of the lattice-like membranous structure of etioplasts, the prolamellar body (PLB). Analysis of mRNA abundance in wildtype and lutein-deficient mutants, lut2 and ccr2, in response to light transitions and herbicide treatments demonstrated that the mRNA abundance of the carotenoid isomerase (CRTISO) and epsilon-cyclase (ϵLCY) can be rate limiting steps in lutein biosynthesis. We show that accumulation of tetra-cis-lycopene and all-trans-lycopene correlates with the abundance of mRNA of several carotenoid biosynthetic genes. Herbicide treatments that inhibit carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes in wildtype and ccr2 etiolated seedlings were used to demonstrate that the loss of the PLB in ccr2 mutants is a result of perturbations in carotenoid accumulation, not indirect secondary effects, as PLB formation could be restored in ccr2 mutants treated with norflurazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby J Cuttriss
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Alexandra C Chubb
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Ali Alawady
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Bernhard Grimm
- Institute of Biology/Plant Physiology, Humboldt University, Philippstrasse 13 Building 12, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Barry J Pogson
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
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