Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer
Published on: January 29, 2020
Chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthetic pathways: Gene expression and pigment content in broccoli during
Feng Luo1, Shun-Chang Cheng1, Jia-Hui Cai1
1Department of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, PR China.
Abstract:
Broccoli undergoes yellowing in unfavorable conditions, thereby diminishing the sensory quality and commodity value. This study aimed to investigate systematically cellular and/or biomolecular changes involved in broccoli yellowing by analyzing changes in microstructural integrity, pigment content, and gene expression. On day-5 of storage at 20 °C, the buds turned yellow without blooming and showed structural damage; ultrastructural analysis revealed plastid transformation and abnormal chloroplast development. Genes regulating pigment content and chloroplast structure directly were identified. More specifically, BoCAO and BoNYC1 regulated chlorophyll turnover, affecting chlorophyll a and b contents. Changes in the β-cryptoxanthin content were influenced by the combined action of up- (BoHYD) and downstream (BoZEP) genes. BoZEP and BoVDE were activated after cold-temperature induction. High BoHO1 expression delayed yellowing at low temperature, inducing BoZEP expression. Color intensity correlated significantly with the chlorophyll b, β-cryptoxanthin, and β-carotene contents, which were associated with increased yellowing of plant tissues.
More Related Videos
11:26Water in Oil Emulsions: A New System for Assembling Water-soluble Chlorophyll-binding Proteins with Hydrophobic Pigments
Published on: March 21, 2016
09:08From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028
Published on: January 13, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Proteins: From Genes to Degradation
Transcription is the synthesis of RNA...
Proteins: From Genes to Degradation
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
What is Gene Expression?
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
What is Gene Expression?