Maize provitamin A carotenoids, current resources, and future metabolic engineering challenges
Abstract
Vitamin A deficiency is a serious global health problem that can be alleviated by improved nutrition. Development of cereal crops with increased provitamin A carotenoids can provide a sustainable solution to eliminating vitamin A deficiency worldwide. Maize is a model for cereals and a major staple carbohydrate source. Here, we discuss maize carotenogenesis with regard to pathway regulation, available resources, and current knowledge for improving carotenoid content and levels of provitamin A carotenoids in edible maize endosperm. This knowledge will be applied to improve the nutritional composition of related Poaceae crops. We discuss opportunities and challenges for optimizing provitamin A carotenoid biofortification of cereal food crops.
Citation
Wurtzel, E.T.; Cuttriss, A.; Vallabhaneni, R. Maize Provitamin A Carotenoids, Current Resources, and Future Metabolic Engineering Challenges. Frontiers in Plant Science (2012) 3: 29. [DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2012.00029]
Links
Maize provitamin A carotenoids, current resources, and future metabolic engineering challenges