VEGETOS: 植物研究の国際ジャーナル

Computational Analysis of Diversity of Genes Coding for Phytoene Synthase in Higher Plants and its Molecular Implications

Monendra Grover and Shachi Gahoi

Computational Analysis of Diversity of Genes Coding for Phytoene Synthase in Higher Plants and its Molecular Implications

Caroteniods are commercially important pigments and play an important role in human lives. Phytoene synthase is a crucial enzyme in carotenoid biosynthetic pathway and catalyzes the conversion of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase, which gives rise to 15-cis-phytoene. In this study we catalogue the diversity in phytoene synthase genes and discuss its molecular implications. Our analysis shows that though there is similarity in some of the biochemical/biophysical parameters of the proteins coded by phytoene synthase genes, there are significant differences with respect to a number of other parameters. All these parameters when correlated with the data on carotenoid content can be used for genetic engineering, particularly in creating a library of genes with differing characteristics but high carotenoid content which will ultimately be useful in creating a diverse genetic base for these genes..