An update on biosynthesis and regulation of carotenoids in plants

Carotenoids are diverse groups of colorful pigments, which are synthesized in plants, algae, bacteria, and some yeast. They play a pivotal role in photosynthesis, photoprotection, and the production of phytohormones (abscisic acid and strigolactone) in plant cells. Most of the carotenogenic genes have been identified in plants; however, the regulatory mechanisms underlying carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation are still unclear. The main objective of this review is to provide updated knowledge on the biosynthesis, regulation, storage, and degradation of plant carotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes and enzymes. This review provides new insightful ideas, with which researchers could elucidate the function of the carotenoid pathway. Furthermore, it shed light on how the metabolic engineering approach in plants has provided important information for carotenoid biotechnology.