Fig. 2

Mutation of Ntε-LCY affects the carotenoid and chlorophyll contents of leaves. a Diagram of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway (CBP). Target genes studied in this experiment are printed in red. Isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), phytoene synthase (PSY), phytoene desaturase (PDS), ζ-carotene desaturase (ZDS), carotenoid isomerase (CRTISO), β-lycopenecyclase (β-LCY), β-carotene hydroxylase (β-OHase), violaxanthin deepoxidase (VDE), zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZE), and neoxanthin synthase (NXS) are shown. b–f Relative carotenoid and chlorophyll levels in WT and Ntε-LCY mutant strains. Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, phytoene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, β-carotene, violaxanthin, neoxanthin, γ-carotene, and zeinoxanthin are shown. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments (n = 3, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001; two-way ANOVA, Tukey’s post-hoc test)