An Uncharacterized Apocarotenoid-Derived Signal Generated in ζ-Carotene Desaturase Mutants Regulates Leaf Development and the Expression of Chloroplast and Nuclear Genes inArabidopsis

2014/06/01 by Aida-Odette Avendaño-Vázquez, Elizabeth Córdoba, Ernesto Llamas +8 · 1 voice · 4 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress #Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms #Plant Molecular Biology Research

paper · doi:10.1105/tpc.114.123349

openalex publication_date 2014/06/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22

Abstract

In addition to acting as photoprotective compounds, carotenoids also serve as precursors in the biosynthesis of several phytohormones and proposed regulatory signals. Here, we report a signaling process derived from carotenoids that regulates early chloroplast and leaf development. Biosynthesis of the signal depends on ζ-carotene desaturase activity encoded by the ζ-CAROTENE DESATURASE (ZDS)/CHLOROPLAST BIOGENESIS5 (CLB5) gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. Unlike other carotenoid-deficient plants, zds/clb5 mutant alleles display profound alterations in leaf morphology and cellular differentiation as well as altered expression of many plastid- and nucleus-encoded genes. The leaf developmental phenotypes and gene expression alterations of zds/clb5/spc1/pde181 plants are rescued by inhibitors or mutations of phytoene desaturase, demonstrating that phytofluene and/or ζ-carotene are substrates for an unidentified signaling molecule. Our work further demonstrates that this signal is an apocarotenoid whose synthesis requires the activity of the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase CCD4.

Cited by

• The role of carotenoids as a source of retrograde signals: impact on plant development and stress responses
• Apocarotenoid signaling regulates meristem activity and shapes shoot and root lateral organ formation in Arabidopsis
• A global perspective on carotenoids: Metabolism, biotechnology, and benefits for nutrition and health
• Chloroplasts extend stromules independently and in response to internal redox signals

Discussions

• Although technically challenging, we have been studying apocarotenoid signaling through genetics and developmental approaches. In this study, we focus on all-trans-carotenoid-deficient mutants that ac [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]

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