ZDS — Brassica napus

Summary

BnZDS (ZDS, SPC1) on chromosome A05 of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) encodes a zeta-carotene desaturase, an enzyme with 9,9'-di-cis-zeta-carotene desaturase and phytoene dehydrogenase activities that binds FAD and performs redox reactions. The gene is associated with carotenoid breakdown, carotene and lycopene anabolism, carotenoid metabolism, and lipogenesis, as well as petal formation, flavonoid anabolism, embryogenesis, and response to herbicide. It is linked to flower, petal, and leaf color, carotenoid content, chloroplast development, photoprotection, plant growth and development, abscisic acid biosynthesis, retrograde signalling, and leaf development. The product localises to the chloroplast thylakoid and envelope. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to carotenoid biosynthesis and pigment-defective embryo phenotypes.