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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Xanthophyll Cycle

  • Chapter
The Photochemistry of Carotenoids

Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 8))

Summary

The xanthophyll cycle is the cyclical interconversion of violaxanthin, antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin in plants and green algae. The existence of the cycle has been known for many years but has attracted renewed interest because of its role in protection of plants against the potentially harmful effects of excess light by enhancing the dissipation of excess energy as heat. The cycle is catalyzed by two enzymes that are localized on opposite sides of the thylakoid membrane. The de-epoxidase that converts violaxanthin to zeaxanthin by way of the intermediate, antheraxanthin, is localized in the thylakoid lumen. The epoxidase that catalyzes the resynthesis of violaxanthin is bound to the stromal side of the membrane. The extent and rate of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin formation (de-epoxidation) are affected by at least four factors, namely, (i) pool size, (ii) availability, (iii) ascorbate, and (iv) lumen pH. The mechanism for de-epoxidation is assumed to be reduction followed by dehydration. Factors affecting the recovery of violaxanthin (epoxidation) include levels of NADPH, ferredoxin, ferredoxin-oxidoreductase and FAD. The mechanism of epoxidation is assumed to be similar to other monooxygenases wherein hydroperoxyflavin is involved and one oxygen atom from molecular oxygen is incorporated. Recently, the cDNAs for both enzymes were isolated and catalytic activities of the expressed proteins demonstrated. Analyses of the deduced polypeptide sequences indicate that both proteins belong to the lipocalin family. The lipocalins are a diverse group of proteins with a conserved barrel structure that bind small hydrophobic molecules. This chapter summarizes the biochemistry of the xanthophyll cycle and examines recent advances in the molecular biology of the cycle.

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Abbreviations

A:

antheraxanthin

ABA:

abscisic acid

CaMV:

cauliflower mosaic virus

D:

diatoxanthin

DGDG:

digalactosyldiacylglyceride

DTT:

dithiothreitol

Elips:

early isoelectric focusing

IML:

intermittent light

LHC:

light-harvesting complex

LCHI:

light-harvesting complex of Photosystem 1

LHCII:

light-harvesting complex of Photosystem 11

MGDG:

monogalactosyldiacylglyceride

NPQ:

non-photochemical quenching

PFD:

photon-flux density

V:

violaxanthin

VDE:

violaxanthin de-epoxidase

Z:

zeaxanthin

ZE:

zeaxanthin epoxidase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, University of Hawaii at Mãnoa, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Harry Y. Yamamoto, Robert C. Bugos & A. David Hieber

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  1. Harry Y. Yamamoto
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  2. Robert C. Bugos
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  3. A. David Hieber
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Harry A. Frank

  2. Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

    Andrew J. Young

  3. University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    George Britton

  4. University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Richard J. Cogdell

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© 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Yamamoto, H.Y., Bugos, R.C., David Hieber, A. (1999). Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Xanthophyll Cycle. In: Frank, H.A., Young, A.J., Britton, G., Cogdell, R.J. (eds) The Photochemistry of Carotenoids. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48209-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48209-6_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-5942-5

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