Comparative transcriptome analyses shed light on carotenoid production and plastid development in melon fruit

摘要

a Outline of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The carotenoids predominately accumulated in yofi and orange-flesh melon fruit are marked by their distinctive color. Vertical bar lines represent genetic inhibition imposed by loss-of-function mutation in the yofi and low-β mutants. OR posttranslationally regulates PSY activity. A question mark represents an unknown mechanism. GGPP geranylgeranyl diphosphate, PSY phytoene synthase, PDS phytoene desaturase, ZDS ζ-carotene desaturase, Z-ISO ζ-carotene isomerase, CRTISO carotenoid isomerase, β-LCY lycopene β-cyclase, ɛ-LCY lycopene ɛ-cyclase, β-OHase β-carotene hydroxylase, ZEP zeaxanthin epoxidase, VDE violaxanthin de-epoxidase. b Fruit phenotypes at different developmental stages of WT (CEZ), low-β, and yofi mutants. White bars on the bottom left of picture indicate 5 mm for ovaries (0 DAA) and 5 cm for developing fruits