title: Carotenogenic gene expression and carotenoid accumulation in three varieties of Cucurbita pepo during fruit development.
abstract: The control of gene expression is a crucial regulatory mechanism in carotenoid accumulation of fruits and flowers. We investigated the role of transcriptional regulation of nine genes involved in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in three varieties of Cucurbita pepo with evident differences in fruit color. The transcriptional levels of the key genes involved in the carotenoid biosynthesis were higher in flower-, leaf-, and fruit skin tissues than flesh tissues. This correlated with higher concentration of carotenoid content in these tissues. The differential expression among the colored and white cultivars detected for some genes, such as LCYe, in combination with other regulatory mechanisms, could explain the large differences found in terms of carotenoid content among the three varieties. These results are a first step to elucidate carotenogenesis in C. pepo and demonstrate that, in general, regulation of the pathway genes is a critical factor that determines the accumulation of these compounds.
authors.affiliation: IFAPA, Centro Alameda del Obispo, Área de Mejora y Biotecnología, Apdo. 14004 Córdoba, Spain. angeles.obrero@juntadeandalucia.es
authors.forename: Ángeles
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Obrero
authors.forename: Clara I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: González-Verdejo
authors.forename: Jose V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Die
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Río-Celestino
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Román
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005638:Fruit / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D019753:Intramolecular Lyases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002338:Carotenoids; D019753:Intramolecular Lyases; C070925:lycopene cyclase-isomerase