Expression of a Chromoplast-Specific Lycopene β-Cyclase Gene (CYC-B) Is Implicated in Carotenoid Accumulation and Coloration in the Loquat
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Carotenoids are the principal pigments in the loquat. Although the metabolic pathway of plant carotenoids has been extensively investigated, few studies have been explored the regulatory mechanisms of loquat carotenoids because knowledge of the loquat genome is incomplete. The chromoplast-specific lycopene β-cyclase gene (CYC-B) could catalyze cyclization of lycopene to β-carotene. In this study, the differential accumulation patterns of loquat with different colors were analyzed and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was utilized in order to verify CYC-B gene function. Using a cloning strategy of homologous genes, a CYC-B gene orthologue was successfully identified from the loquat. At a later stage of maturation, CYC-B gene expression and carotenoids concentrations in the ‘Dawuxing’ variety were higher than in ‘Chuannong 1-5-9′, possibly leading to the difference in pulp coloration of loquat. Interference of CYC-B gene expression in the loquat demonstrated clear visual changes. The green color in negative control fruits became yellow, while TRV2-CYC-B silenced fruits remained green. CYC-B gene expression and total carotenoid content in the pulp decreased by 32.5% and 44.1%, respectively. Furthermore, multiple key genes in the carotenoid metabolic pathway synergistically responded to downregulation of CYC-B gene expression. In summary, we provide direct evidences that CYC-B gene is involved in carotenoid accumulation and coloration in the loquat.Keywords:
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Abstract Lycopene is the major carotenoid in tomatoes. Tomatoes contain a matrix of many bioactive components, including vitamin C, vitamin E, other carotenoids (a‐, β‐, γ‐ carotene, lutein), and flavonoids. Their synergistic interactions, when used in combination, may be responsible for the observed beneficial effects of tomato‐based products. This study investigated the synergistic antioxidant activity of lycopene in combination with β‐carotene, vitamin E, and lutein. A liposome system was used to test the synergistic antioxidant activity. The carotenoid mixtures were more efficient in protecting liposome from oxidation than the individual carotenoid. Mixtures of lycopene and vitamin E appear to have the greatest synergistic antioxidant activity.
beta-Carotene
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Carotenoids analysis is complicated by their tendency to react with radical species, resulting in oxidative breakdown and isomerization during extraction. Hence, analysis methods should be rapid and avoid unnecessary exposure to high temperature, acids, and so on. The aim of this work to estimate carotenoid contents of processed tomato products non-destructively. The mean values obtained by visible and near-infrared Vis/NIR spectroscopy and by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for eight carotenoid contents (ß-carotene, 5-cis lycopene, 13-cis lycopene, 9-cis lycopene, all-trans lycopene, zeaxanthin, lycoxanthin and total carotenoids) in four processed tomato products from five different brands were compared. The carotenoid contents were measured using HPLC, and these results were then used to develop partial least squares regression (PLSR) models to predict carotenoid components from Vis/NIR spectra of the same samples. A good correlation was found between HPLC measurements and the Vis/NIRs (590-790 nm) predictions for ß-carotene (RP2= 0.88), 9-cis lycopene (RP2= 0.86), total carotenoids (RP2= 0.84), 13-cis lycopene (RP2= 0.83), 5-cis lycopene (RP2=0.80), zeaxanthin (RP2= 0.80) to passable for all-trans lycopene (RP2= 0.70), but there was only a poor correlation (RP2= 0.20) for the lycoxanthin component. The overall results indicated that Vis/NIRs could be applied to assess carotenoid contents of different processed tomato products.
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Phytoene synthase
Phytoene
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Violaxanthin
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Watermelons contain the carotenoids b-carotene, phytofluene, lycopene, and lutein. These carotenoids play an important role in plant oxidative protection and may serve to protect humans against oxidative assaults. Of the carotenoids, lycopene is the predominant pigment in red-fleshed melons (30-130 μg·g -1 ), b-carotene is present in small amounts (1-14 μg·g -1 ), and other carotenoids are present in minute amounts (1-3 μg·g -1 ). Seventy varieties were screened for lycopene content using scanning colorimetry, spectrophotometry, and HPLC techniques, and grouped as low, medium, high, or very high in lycopene. Pink-fleshed heirloom varieties such as Sweet Princess and Black Diamond contained low amounts of lycopene (<40 μg·g -1 ). A number of seeded and seedless varieties had medium amounts of lycopene (40-60 μg·g -1 ). Varieties in the high category (60-80 μg·g -1 ) were primarily seedless types, although `Dixie Lee', an open-pollinated, seeded variety had 69 μg·g -1 , indicating that high lycopene content is not restricted to hybrid or seedless melon germplasm. Six selections were found to be very high in lycopene (>80 μg·g -1 ), including the minimelon Hazera 6008 (Extazy). Total carotenoids and carotenoid profiles were determined by HPLC for 23 varieties in 2003. Both seeded and seedless type melons had varieties high in bcarotene, lycopene, and total carotenoids. These results indicate that commercial watermelon varieties have a wide range in lycopene and b-carotene content, and that most commercially important varieties are high in lycopene and total carotenoids, providing important sources of phytonutrients to the human diet.
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Diets containing plant-food, with a wide variety of phytochemical compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids, monoterpens, isothiocyanates, and phytosterols, have been associated with health benefit effects. Carotenoids are natural pigments from plants and micro-organisms. Although the nutritional importance has been confined to those possessing pro-vitamin A activity, nowadays other carotenoids such as lycopene, have also emerged as nutritional compounds according to their biological properties. Lycopene is present in tomato, watermelon, papaya, apricot and pink grapefruit, providing tomato and tomato products the highest content in the diet. The health effects of lycopene derived from its free radical scavenging capacity, which is higher to those evaluated in other carotenoids, such as has been described in in vitro and in vivo studies. The epidemiological studies implicate the lycopene with the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and epithelial cancers. This review summarizes the importance of lycopene in the diet, its chemical and biological properties, and health benefit effects, remarking the aspects associated with the presence in tomarto and tomato comsuption.
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Carotenoids are a group of widely distributed natural pigments. They give many horticultural plants the bright red, orange, and yellow colors, as well as the aroma and flavor. Carotenoids enhance the health value and represent an essential quality trait of horticultural products. Significant efforts have been made to correlate specific carotenoid production with pathway gene expression. Some transcription factors that directly regulate transcription of the pathway genes have been identified. Horticultural crops have evolved with complicated and multifaceted regulatory mechanisms to generate the enormous diversity in carotenoid content and composition. However, the diverse and complex control of carotenoid accumulation is still not well understood. In this review, we depict carotenoid accumulation pathways and highlight the recent progress in the regulatory control of carotenoid accumulation in horticultural plants. Because of the critical roles of chromoplasts for carotenoid hyperproduction, we evaluate chromoplast ultrastructures and carotenoid sequestrations. A perspective on carotenoid research in horticultural crops is provided.
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Watermelon contains lycopene, a red carotenoid pigment that has strong antioxidant properties. The lycopene content of watermelon is substantial, contributing 8−20 mg per 180 g serving. There are no reports on carotenoid changes in whole watermelon during storage. Three types of watermelon, open-pollinated seeded, hybrid seeded, and seedless types, were stored at 5, 13, and 21 °C for 14 days and flesh color, composition, and carotenoid content were compared to those of fruit not stored. Watermelons stored at 21 °C had increased pH, chroma, and carotenoid content compared to fresh fruit. Compared to fresh fruit, watermelons stored at 21 °C gained 11−40% in lycopene and 50−139% in β-carotene, whereas fruit held at 13 °C changed little in carotenoid content. These results indicate that carotenoid biosynthesis in watermelons can be affected by temperature and storage. Keywords: Lycopene; β-carotene; chilling injury; triploid watemelon; Citrullus lanatus (Thunb Matsum & Nakai)
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beta-Carotene
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