PSY — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT5G17230, designated PSY in Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes phytoene synthase (EC 2.5.1.32). The protein localises to plastids, including chloroplasts and etioplasts, and is associated with phytoene and apocarotenoid biosynthesis, carotenoid and abscisic acid metabolism, chromoplast organisation, and the methylerythritol phosphate pathway. PSY has been linked to numerous agronomic traits, including fruit and seed development, carotenoid and provitamin A content, flowering time, seed dormancy, and responses to UV-A, drought, salt, and osmotic stress. It is also associated with photosynthetic rate, nonphotochemical quenching, chloroplast biogenesis, and thermotolerance. Studies of related genes in other species link the PSY family to fruit pigmentation, lycopene accumulation, cold stress tolerance, and virus resistance.