Ζ-Carotene Explained

ζ-Carotene (zeta-carotene) is a carotenoid. It is different from α-carotene and β-carotene because it is acyclic.^[1] ζ-Carotene is similar in structure to lycopene, but has an additional 4 hydrogen atoms. ζ-carotene can be used as an intermediate in forming β-carotene.^[2] A dehydrogenation reaction converts ζ-carotene into lycopene, which then can be transformed into β-carotene through the action of lycopene beta-cyclase.^{[3] [4]} ζ-Carotene is a natural product found in Lonicera japonica and Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Notes and References

1. Chen Y, Li J, Fan K, Du Y, Ren Z, Xu J, Zheng J, Liu Y, Fu J, Ren D, Wang G . Mutations in the maize zeta-carotene desaturase gene lead to viviparous kernel . PLOS ONE . 12 . 3 . e0174270 . 2017 . 28339488 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0174270 . 5365113 . 2017PLoSO..1274270C . free .
2. Web site: zeta-Carotene. PubChem . National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine . 2018-12-09.
3. Tomes ML, Quackenbush FW, Nelson OE, North B . The Inheritance of Carotenoid Pigment Systems in the Tomato . Genetics . 38 . 2 . 117–27 . March 1953 . 10.1093/genetics/38.2.117 . 17247427 . 1209592 .
4. Rosati C, Aquilani R, Dharmapuri S, Pallara P, Marusic C, Tavazza R, Bouvier F, Camara B, Giuliano G . Metabolic engineering of beta-carotene and lycopene content in tomato fruit . The Plant Journal . 24 . 3 . 413–9 . November 2000 . 11069713 . 10.1046/j.1365-313x.2000.00880.x . free .