Elucidation of the esterification mechanism of beta-cryptoxanthin in citrus fruit

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06015
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39030:Horticultural science-related
• Research Institution: Shizuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Zhang Lancui 静岡大学, 農学部, 特任助教 (20767371)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: β－クリプトキサンチン / キサントフィル / エステル化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, to elucidate the mechanism of the xanthophyll esterification in citrus fruit, the changes in the contents of xanthophyll esters were investigated in the flavedo and juice sacs of different citrus varieties during the ripening process. The results showed that the contents of xanthophyll esters increased gradually in citrus fruit during the ripening process, and more than 85% of xanthophylls were present in esterified forms in the mature fruit. In addition, we screed the genes involved in xanthophyll esterification by microarray analysis. The results showed that the expression of CitXES1, CitXES6, CitXES7, CitXES8, and CitXES9 increased rapidly in the citrus fruit during the ripening process. The changes in the expression of CitXESs were well consistent with the accumulation of xanthophyll esters during the ripening process, which indicated that CitXESs might be the key genes responsible for xanthophyll esterification in citrus fruit.

Free Research Field

収穫後生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本申請課題で取り組むβ-クリプトキサンチンの脂肪酸とのエステル化は，β-クリプトキサンチンの高蓄積メカニズムに大きく関わっていることが予想される。本研究では，カンキツ果実における新たなβ-クリプトキサンチンの高蓄積機構を解明し，研究成果は機能性成分であるβ-クリプトキサンチンの高含有化栽培技術，貯蔵技術，高含有新品種の育種へ繋がる。