The biosynthesis of vitamin A (retinol) is discussed. I go through the enzymatic pathways that organisms (like plants) use to generate beta carotene and vitamin A. I also briefly discuss the genetically modified organism (GMO) golden rice, which engineers the steps in the vitamin A biosynthesis (phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase) into rice in order for rice to produce vitamin A
Other places you can find content from me:
Blog – The Cynical Philosopher
Twitter – @AuthorTomHarper
Amazon – Author Profile
My science fiction series available on Amazon
Incarnate: Existence
Incarnate: Essence
Incarnate: Schism
References and Resources:
Vitamin A Fact Sheet:
The biosynthesis and metabolism of carotenoids and retinol (vitamin A):
Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase kinetics (Lactarius chrysorrheus):
Isoprenoid biosynthesis in plant chloroplasts via the MEP pathway: Direct thylakoid/ferredoxin-dependent photoreductionof GcpE/IspG:
Francisella tularensis2-C-Methyl-D-Erythritol 4-Phosphate Cytidylyltransferase: Kinetic Characterization and Phosphoregulation:
Structural Basis of Fosmidomycin Action Revealed by the Complex with 2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate Synthase (IspC):
The Crystal Structure of Human Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase Reveals a Novel Hexameric Arrangement and Inhibitory Product Binding:
Atomic resolution structures of discrete stages on the reaction coordinate of the [Fe4S4] enzyme IspG (GcpE):
Conformational dynamics of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase on ligand binding revealed by H/D exchange MS:
The structure of Mycobacteria 2C-methyl-D-erythritol-2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase, an essential enzyme, provides a platform for drug discovery:
Carotenoid Dioxygenase:
Structural insights into a key carotenogenesis related enzyme phytoene synthase of P. falciparum: a novel drug target for malaria:
Effect of an Introduced Phytoene Synthase Gene Expression on Carotenoid Biosynthesis in the Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum:
On the Structure and Function of the Phytoene Desaturase CRTI from Pantoea ananatis, a Membrane-Peripheral and FAD-Dependent Oxidase/Isomerase:
Plant-type phytoene desaturase: Functional evaluation of structural implications:
Structural insights into a key carotenogenesis related enzyme phytoene synthase of P. falciparum: a novel drug target for malaria:
Structure of Phytoene Desaturase Provides Insights into Herbicide Binding and Reaction Mechanisms Involved in Carotene Desaturation:
Structure and mechanism of NOV1, a resveratrol-cleaving dioxygenase:
Mechanistic Insights into a Stibene Cleavage Oxygenase NOV1 from Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical Calculations:
PDB Codes:
1ONP – IspC 2C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate Synthase (with Mn2+ and Fosmidomycin)
5DU1 – IspC 2C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate Synthase (with NADPH)
1H47 – IspF 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate Synthase
4S3B – IspG 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl diphosphate Synthase
2Q80 – Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase
5JA0 – Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase
5MOG – Phytoene Desaturase
2BIW – 15, 15` Dioxygenase
