title: cDNAs for the synthesis of cyclic carotenoids in petals of Gentiana lutea and their regulation during flower development.
abstract: cDNAs encoding lycopene epsilon -cyclase, lycopene beta-cyclase, beta-carotene hydroxylase and zeaxanthin epoxidase were isolated from a Gentiana lutea petal cDNA library. The function of all cDNAs was analyzed by complementation in Escherichia coli. Transcript levels during different stages of flower development of G. lutea were determined and compared to the carotenoid composition. Expression of all genes increased by a factor of up to 2, with the exception of the lycopene epsilon -cyclase gene. The transcript amount of the latter was strongly decreased. These results indicate that during flower development, carotenoid formation is enhanced. Moreover, metabolites are shifted away from the biosynthetic branch to lutein and are channeled into beta-carotene and derivatives.
authors.affiliation: Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4 Narita, Kitakami, 024-0003, Iwate, Japan.
authors.forename: Changfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Saburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: Masashiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishihara
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koiwa
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandmann
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015723:Gene Library; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D030012:Gentiana / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D019753:Intramolecular Lyases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000077276:Lycopene; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D002338:Carotenoids; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C097153:zeaxanthin epoxidase; C079232:beta-carotene hydroxylase; D019753:Intramolecular Lyases; C070925:lycopene cyclase-isomerase; D000077276:Lycopene