title: Sites of biosynthesis of carotenoids in Capsicum chromoplasts.
abstract: Capsicum chromoplasts incubated with isopentenyl diphosphate actively synthesize carotenoids. The enzymes involved in these reactions are compartmentalized: the stroma is the site of phytoene synthesis, the first colourless carotenoid, while desaturation and cyclization of the latter leading to coloured carotenoids, occur in the membrane fraction (chromoplast envelope + achlorophyll lamellae derived in part from the inner envelope membrane). Phytoene synthetase could be used as a marker of chromoplast stroma.
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002212:Capsicum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids