MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF CAROTENOID BIOSYNTHESIS

类胡萝卜素主要来源于植物性食物， 动物中的角色 例如，类胡萝卜素是代谢前体， 视觉的基本成分，维生素A和其他类维生素A化合物 参与动物形态发生。 类胡萝卜素还具有抗癌作用 作为光保护剂、作为免疫调节剂和用于增强 细胞通讯 儿童维生素A缺乏症的患病率 由于饮食中类胡萝卜素不足， 将适当的基因工程化到那些 国家，大米。 水稻胚乳中缺乏类胡萝卜素， 蛋白质和淀粉。 研究的重点是分离和 玉米中类胡萝卜素生物合成所需基因的表征。 阐明控制这一重要途径的调控机制 将导致改良类胡萝卜素的工程谷物策略 内容 玉米是一个很好的模式系统，因为它的胚乳确实使 并储存这些必需的色素 此外，分子研究 由于许多特征明确的突变的存在， 堵住了通道 基因将根据以下方面进行表征： 物理图谱、RNA的时间和发育表达谱， 蛋白质水平和类胡萝卜素突变对表达的影响。 这 研究计划是我们MBRS本科生的共同努力， 博士预科生、博士后研究员和我自己。

Carotenoids, mainly derived from plant foods, have numerous essential roles in animals. For example, carotenoids are metabolic precursors of an essential component of vision, Vitamin A, and of other retinoid compounds involved in animal morphogenesis. Carotenoids also function as anticancer agents, as photoprotectors, as immunomodulating agents, and in enhancing cell communication. The prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency in developing nations due to inadequate carotenoid in the diet might be alleviated by engineering of appropriate genes into the major food staple in those countries, rice. Rice lacks carotenoids in the endosperm, the source of protein and starch. The focus of the research is the isolation and characterization of genes required for carotenoid biosynthesis in maize. Elucidation of regulatory mechanisms controlling this essential pathway will lead to strategies of engineering grains for improved carotenoid content. Maize is an excellent model system as its endosperm does make and store these essential pigments. Furthermore, the molecular studies are enhanced by the availability of many well characterized mutations blocking the pathway. Genes will be characterized with respect to physical maps, temporal and developmental expression profiles at RNA and protein levels, and effect of carotenoid mutations on expression. This research program is a concerted effort made by our MBRS undergraduates, predoctoral students, a postdoctoral fellow, and myself.