@article{25887111553a461e859a1660c994fac7,
title = "The maize PLASTID TERMINAL OXIDASE (PTOX) locus controls the carotenoid content of kernels",
abstract = "Carotenoids perform a broad range of important functions in humans; therefore, carotenoid biofortification of maize (Zea mays L.), one of the most highly produced cereal crops worldwide, would have a global impact on human health. PLASTID TERMINAL OXIDASE (PTOX) genes play an important role in carotenoid metabolism; however, the possible function of PTOX in carotenoid biosynthesis in maize has not yet been explored. In this study, we characterized the maize PTOX locus by forward- and reverse-genetic analyses. While most higher plant species possess a single copy of the PTOX gene, maize carries two tandemly duplicated copies. Characterization of mutants revealed that disruption of either copy resulted in a carotenoid-deficient phenotype. We identified mutations in the PTOX genes as being causal of the classic maize mutant, albescent1. Remarkably, overexpression of ZmPTOX1 significantly improved the content of carotenoids, especially β-carotene (provitamin A), which was increased by \textasciitilde{}threefold, in maize kernels. Overall, our study shows that maize PTOX locus plays an important role in carotenoid biosynthesis in maize kernels and suggests that fine-tuning the expression of this gene could improve the nutritional value of cereal grains.",
keywords = "albescent1, biofortification, carotene, provitamin A",
author = "Yongxin Nie and Hui Wang and Guan Zhang and Haiping Ding and Beibei Han and Lei Liu and Jian Shi and Jiyuan Du and Xiaohu Li and Xinzheng Li and Yajie Zhao and Xiaocong Zhang and Changlin Liu and Jianfeng Weng and Xinhai Li and Xiansheng Zhang and Xiangyu Zhao and Guangtang Pan and David Jackson and Li, \{Qin Bao\} and Stinard, \{Philip S.\} and Jennifer Arp and Sachs, \{Martin M.\} and Steven Moose and Hunter, \{Charles T.\} and Qingyu Wu and Zhiming Zhang",
note = "Funding for this work was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171925, U21A20210) to Q.W.; The National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1201703), Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province (tsqn201909074), and Shandong Natural Science Foundation (ZR2020KC019) to Z.Z.; The Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (GJ2023-14-11 and GJ2023-14-5) and Fundamental Research Funds for Central Non-profit Scientific Institution (G2023-01-30) to Q.W.; Key R\&D Program of Shandong Province (2021LZGC022-2) to H.D.; Shandong Natural Science Foundation (ZR2022MC076) to Y.N.; National Science Foundation (NSF) to DJ (IOS-2129189); and United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service research project 6036-21000-011-00D to C.H. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. We thank Prof. Junjie Fu and Dr. Jie Zhang for their advice on nucleotide diversity analyses. Funding for this work was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171925, U21A20210) to Q.W.; The National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1201703), Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province (tsqn201909074), and Shandong Natural Science Foundation (ZR2020KC019) to Z.Z.; The Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (GJ2023\textbackslash{}u201014\textbackslash{}u201011 and GJ2023\textbackslash{}u201014\textbackslash{}u20105) and Fundamental Research Funds for Central Non\textbackslash{}u2010profit Scientific Institution (G2023\textbackslash{}u201001\textbackslash{}u201030) to Q.W.; Key R\&D Program of Shandong Province (2021LZGC022\textbackslash{}u20102) to H.D.; Shandong Natural Science Foundation (ZR2022MC076) to Y.N.; National Science Foundation (NSF) to DJ (IOS\textbackslash{}u20102129189); and United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service research project 6036\textbackslash{}u201021000\textbackslash{}u2010011\textbackslash{}u201000D to C.H. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. We thank Prof. Junjie Fu and Dr. Jie Zhang for their advice on nucleotide diversity analyses.",
year = "2024",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1111/tpj.16618",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "118",
pages = "457--468",
journal = "Plant Journal",
issn = "0960-7412",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "2",
}