Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
5-2026
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Tianhu Sun
Committee Members
Dhirendra Kumar, Anoop Arunagiri
Abstract
Carotenoids are essential plant pigments and important nutrients for human health, yet the three-dimensional spatial organization of their biosynthetic enzymes into multienzyme complexes (metabolons) remains poorly understood. This study investigates the biochemical architecture of carotenogenic enzyme complexes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) during chromoplast differentiation. We hypothesize that dynamic assembly of these enzymes within specific sub-organellar compartments, particularly plastoglobules (PGs), regulates metabolic flux and final pigment composition. To examine this, a standardized genetic platform (cv. Ailsa Craig) and four color mutants: yellow flesh (r), tangerine (t), Beta (B), and Delta (Del) were used to evaluate how enzymatic disruptions influence complex stability. Intact chromoplasts were isolated and fractionated using Nycodenz density-gradient ultracentrifugation. Protein localization and metabolic profiles were analyzed using Western blotting, protein mass spectrometry, and HPLC. This work advances understanding of carotenoid metabolon organization and provides insights for engineering nutrient-dense crops and improving biofortification strategies to address global vitamin A deficiency.
Document Type
Thesis - embargo
Recommended Citation
Siddique, Bushrana, "Biochemical and Functional Analysis of Carotenoid Biosynthetic Enzyme Complexes in Tomato Fruits" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4693. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4693
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
