title: Chromoplast biogenesis and carotenoid accumulation.
abstract: Chromoplasts are special organelles that possess superior ability to synthesize and store massive amounts of carotenoids. They are responsible for the distinctive colors found in fruits, flowers, and roots. Chromoplasts exhibit various morphologies and are derived from either pre-existing chloroplasts or other non-photosynthetic plastids such as proplastids, leucoplasts or amyloplasts. While little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying chromoplast biogenesis, research progress along with proteomics study of chromoplast proteomes signifies various processes and factors important for chromoplast differentiation and development. Chromoplasts act as a metabolic sink that enables great biosynthesis and high storage capacity of carotenoids. The formation of chromoplasts enhances carotenoid metabolic sink strength and controls carotenoid accumulation in plants. The objective of this review is to provide an integrated view on our understanding of chromoplast biogenesis and carotenoid accumulation in plants.
authors.affiliation: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: ll37@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D051232:Geranylgeranyl-Diphosphate Geranylgeranyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018087:Plastids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020524:Thylakoids / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; D051232:Geranylgeranyl-Diphosphate Geranylgeranyltransferase
keywords: Carotenoid accumulation; Chromoplast biogenesis; Metabolic sink