title: More than meets the eye: from carotenoid biosynthesis, to new insights into apocarotenoid signaling.
abstract: Carotenoids are a class of isoprenoids synthesized almost exclusively in plants involved in a myriad of roles including the provision of flower and fruit pigmentation for the attraction of pollinators and seed dispersing organisms. While carotenoids are essential throughout plant development, they are also extremely important in human diets providing necessary nutrition and aiding in the prevention of various cancers, age-related diseases and macular degeneration. Utilization of multiple plant models systems (i.e. Arabidopsis; maize; and tomato) has provided a comprehensive framework detailing the regulation of carotenogenesis throughout plant development covering all levels of genetic regulation from epigenetic to post-translational modifications. That said, the understanding of how carotenoids self-regulate remains fragmented. Recent reports demonstrate the potential influence of carotenoid-cleavage products (apocarotenoids) as signaling molecules regulating carotenoid biosynthesis in addition to various aspects of plants development (i.e. leaf and root development). This review highlights recent advances in carotenogenic regulation and insights into potential roles of novel apocarotenoids in plants.
authors: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors: Ryan P
authors: RP
authors: McQuinn
authors: Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, USDA-ARS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors: James J
authors: JJ
authors: Giovannoni
authors: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: Barry.Pogson@anu.edu.au.
authors: Barry J
authors: BJ
authors: Pogson
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids