Carotenoid and Isoprenoid Biotechnology
Research line: Biotechnology and Plant Breeding of Cultivated Species
- Research
- Staff
- Publications
- Projects
- Other publications
- Patent
- Thesis
Research
The major focus of our research is the biosynthesis of isoprenoids, one of the main groups of plant natural products. All isoprenoids, including many compounds with interest as nutrients, pigments, drugs, or biofuels, derive from prenyl diphosphates whose production is uniquely compartmentalized in plant cells. In chloroplasts, these precursors are synthesized by the MEP pathway. We are using forward and reverse genetic as well as biochemical approaches to understand how plants regulate the metabolic flux through the MEP pathway and the cross-talk with downstream pathways for the production of isoprenoid end-products such as carotenoids.
Carotenoids are plastidial isoprenoids that contribute to light harvesting, protect the photosynthetic apparatus against excess light, and color non-photosynthetic tissues of many flowers and fruits. Carotenoid-derived products include plant growth regulators such as abscisic acid and strigolactones. The economic interest of carotenoids is mainly based on their use as natural pigments but they are also important as vitamin A precursors and health-promoting phytonutrients. However, our limited knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that regulate plant carotenogenesis is still a major drawback for the generation of new carotenoid-enriched plant varieties. Our current work is unveiling some of these regulatory mechanisms in Arabidopsis and translating the knowledge to crops such as tomato.
The major focus of our research is the biosynthesis of isoprenoids, one of the main groups of plant natural products. All isoprenoids, including many compounds with interest as nutrients, pigments, drugs, or biofuels, derive from prenyl diphosphates whose production is uniquely compartmentalized in plant cells. In chloroplasts, these precursors are synthesized by the MEP pathway. We are using forward and reverse genetic as well as biochemical approaches to understand how plants regulate the metabolic flux through the MEP pathway and the cross-talk with downstream pathways for the production of isoprenoid end-products such as carotenoids.
Carotenoids are plastidial isoprenoids that contribute to light harvesting, protect the photosynthetic apparatus against excess light, and color non-photosynthetic tissues of many flowers and fruits. Carotenoid-derived products include plant growth regulators such as abscisic acid and strigolactones. The economic interest of carotenoids is mainly based on their use as natural pigments but they are also important as vitamin A precursors and health-promoting phytonutrients. However, our limited knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that regulate plant carotenogenesis is still a major drawback for the generation of new carotenoid-enriched plant varieties. Our current work is unveiling some of these regulatory mechanisms in Arabidopsis and translating the knowledge to crops such as tomato.
El mundo de los carotenoides
El mon dels carotenoides
Karotenoideen mundua
O mundo dos carotenoides
Le monde des caroténoïdes
Il mondo dei carotenoidi
Die Welt der Carotinoide
类胡萝卜素的世界
Staff
Staff Researchers
Contract Staff and Fellows
Publications
- Boosting pro-vitamin A content and bioaccessibility in leaves by combining engineered biosynthesis and storage pathways with high-light treatments. PLANT J. 119: 2951-2966. HIGHEST ALTMETRIC SCORE OF ALL ARTICLES PUBLISHED ANY TIME IN PLANT JOURNAL
- Iglesias-Sanchez A, Navarro-Carcelen J, Morelli L, Rodriguez-Concepcion M* (2024) PLANT PHYSIOL. 194: 1662-1673.
- In planta expression of human polyQ-expanded huntingtin fragment reveals mechanisms to prevent disease-related protein aggregation.
- Overlapping and specialized roles of tomato phytoene synthases in carotenoid and abscisic acid production. PLANT PHYSIOL. 193: 2021-2036. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY ARTICLE OF THE WEEK,
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Ezquerro M, Li C, Pérez-Pérez J, Burbano-Erazo E, Barja MV, Wang Y, Dong L, Lisón P, López-Gresa MP, Bouwmeester HJ, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2023) Tomato geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase isoform 1 is involved in the stress-triggered production of diterpenes in leaves and strigolactones in roots. NEW PHYTOL. 239: 2292–2306
- Di X, Ortega-Alarcon D, Kakumanu R, Iglesias-Fernandez J, Diaz L, Baidoo EEK, Velazquez-Campoy A, Rodríguez-Concepción M*, Perez-Gil J* (2023) MEP pathway products allosterically promote monomerization of deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase to feedback-regulate their supply. PLANT COMMUN. 4: 100512.
- Morelli L, Rodriguez-Concepcion M* (2023) Open avenues for carotenoid biofortification of plant tissues. PLANT COMMUN. 4: 100466.
- Morelli L, Torres-Montilla S, Glauser G, Shanmugabalaji V, Kessler F, Rodriguez-Concepcion M* (2023) Novel insights on the contribution of plastoglobules and reactive oxygen species to chromoplast differentiation. NEW PHYTOL. 237: 1696-1710
- Mi J, Vallarino JG, Petřík I, Novák O, Correa SM, Chodasiewicz M, Havaux M, Rodriguez-Concepcion M, Al-Babili S, Fernie AR, Skirycz A, Moreno JC* (2022) A manipulation of carotenoid metabolism influences biomass partitioning and fitness in tomato. METAB. ENG. 70:166-180
- Torres-Montilla S, Rodriguez-Concepcion M* (2021) Making extra room for carotenoids in plant cells: New opportunities for biofortification. PROG. LIPID RES. 84:101128
- Morelli L, Paulisic S, Qin W, Iglesias-Sanchez A, Roig-Villanova I, Florez-Sarasa I, Rodriguez-Concepción M*, Martínez-García JF* (2021) Light signals generated by vegetation shade facilitate acclimation to low light in shade-avoider plants. PLANT PHYSIOL. 186:2137-2151 COVER
- Ling Q, Sadali NM, Soufi Z, Zhou Y, Huang B, Zeng Y, Rodriguez-Concepción M, Jarvis RP* (2021) The chloroplast-associated protein degradation pathway controls chromoplast development and fruit ripening in tomato. NATURE PLANTS 7: 655-666
- Llamas E, Torres-Montilla S, Lee HJ, Barja MV, Schlimgen E, Dunken N, Wagle P, Werr W, Zuccaro A, Rodríguez-Concepción M, Vilchez D* (2021) The intrinsic chaperone network of Arabidopsis stem cells confers protection against proteotoxic stress. AGING CELL 20:e13446
- Barja MV, Ezquerro M, Beretta S, Diretto G, Florez-Sarasa I, Feixes E, Fiore A, Karlova R, Fernie AR, Beekwilder J, Rodriguez-Concepción M* (2021) Several geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase isoforms supply metabolic substrates for carotenoid biosynthesis in tomato. NEW PHYTOL. 231:255-272 COVER
- PLANT CELL 33:3645-3657 COVER
- Andersen TB, Llorente B, Morelli L, Torres-Montilla S, Bordanaba-Florit G, Espinosa FA, Rodriguez-Goberna MR, Campos N, Olmedilla-Alonso B, Llansola-Portoles MJ, Pascal AA, Rodriguez-Concepción M* (2021) An engineered extraplastidial pathway for carotenoid biofortification of leaves. PLANT BIOTECHNOL. J. 19:1008-1021 COVER
- Llorente B*, Torres-Montilla S, Morelli L, Florez-Sarasa I, Matus JT, Ezquerro M, D’Andrea L, Houhou F, Majer E, Picó B, Cebolla J, Troncoso A, Fernie AR, Daròs JA, Rodriguez-Concepción M* (2020) Synthetic conversion of leaf chloroplasts into carotenoid-rich plastids reveals mechanistic basis of natural chromoplast development. PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI. USA 117: 21796-21803
- Ortiz-Alcaide M, Llamas E, Gomez-Cadenas A, Nagatani A, Martinez-Garcia JF*, Rodriguez-Concepción M* (2019) Chloroplasts modulate elongation responses to shade by retrograde pathways involving HY5 and ABA. PLANT CELL 31: 384-398.
- Molina-Contreras MJ, Paulisic S, Then C, Moreno-Romero J, Pastor-Andreu P, Morelli L, Roig-Villanova I, Jenkins H, Hallab A, Gan X, Gomez-Cadenas A, Tsiantis M, Rodríguez-Concepción M, Martínez-García JF* (2019) Photoreceptor activity contributes to contrasting responses to shade in Cardamine and Arabidopsis seedlings. PLANT CELL 31: 2649–2663
- Welsch R*, Zhou X, Yuan H, Álvarez D, Sun T, Schlossarek D, Yang Y, Shen G, Zhang H, Rodriguez-Concepcion M, Thannhauser TW, Li L* (2018) Clp protease and OR directly control the proteostasis of phytoene synthase, the critical enzyme for carotenoid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. MOL. PLANT 11: 149-162
- Rodriguez-Concepcion M*, Avalos J, Bonet ML, Boronat A, Gomez-Gomez L, Hornero-Mendez D, Limon MC, Meléndez-Martínez AJ, Olmedilla-Alonso B, Palou A, Ribot J, Rodrigo MJ, Zacarias L, Zhu C (2018) A global perspective on carotenoids: Metabolism, biotechnology, and benefits for nutrition and health. PROG. LIPID RES. 70: 62-93.
- Llamas E, Pulido P, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2017) Interference with plastome gene expression and Clp protease activity in Arabidopsis triggers a chloroplast unfolded protein response to restore protein homeostasis. PLOS GENET. 13: e1007022.
- Pulido P, Llamas E, Llorente B, Ventura S, Wright LP, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2016) Specific Hsp100 Chaperones Determine the Fate of the First Enzyme of the Plastidial Isoprenoid Pathway for Either Refolding or Degradation by the Stromal Clp Protease in Arabidopsis. PLOS GENET. 6: 19036.
- Ruiz-Sola MA, Barja MV, Manzano D, Llorente B, Schipper B, Beekwilder J, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2016) A single Arabidopsis gene encodes two differentially targeted geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase isoforms. PLANT PHYSIOL. 172: 1393–1402.
- Ruiz-Sola MA, Coman D, Beck G, Barja MV, Colinas M, Graf A, Welsch R, Rütimann P, Bühlmann P, Bigler L, Gruissem W, Rodríguez-Concepción M*, Vranová E* (2016) Arabidopsis geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase 11 is a hub isozyme required for the production of most photosynthesis-related isoprenoids. NEW PHYTOL. 209: 252-264
- Llorente B, D’Andrea L, Ruíz-Sola MA, Botterweg E, Pulido P, Andilla J, Loza-Alvarez P, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2016) Tomato fruit carotenoid biosynthesis is adjusted to actual ripening progression by a light-dependent mechanism. PLANT J. 85: 107-119.
- Garcia-Mas J*, Rodríguez-Concepción M (2016) The carrot genome sequence brings colors out of the dark. NATURE GENETICS 48: 589-590
- Pokhilko A, Bou-Torrent J, Pulido P, Rodríguez-Concepción M*, Ebenhöh O* (2015) Mathematical modelling of the diurnal regulation of the MEP pathway in Arabidopsis. NEW PHYTOL. 206: 1075–1085
- Bou-Torrent J, Toledo-Ortiz G, Ortiz-Alcaide M, Cifuentes-Esquivel N, Halliday KJ, Martinez-García JF*, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2015) Regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis by shade relies on specific subsets of antagonistic transcription factors and co-factors. PLANT PHYSIOL. 169: 1584-1594.
- Toledo-Ortiz G*, Johansson H, Lee KP, Bou-Torrent J, Stewart K, Steel G, Rodríguez-Concepción M, Halliday KJ* (2014) The HY5-PIF regulatory module coordinates light and temperature control of photosynthetic gene transcription. PLOS GENET. 10:e1004416.
- Pulido P, Toledo-Ortiz G, Phillips MA, Wright LP, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2013) Arabidopsis J-Protein J20 Delivers the First Enzyme of the Plastidial Isoprenoid Pathway to Protein Quality Control. PLANT CELL 25:4183–4194.
- Pulido P, Perello C, Rodriguez-Concepcion M* (2012) New insights into plant isoprenoid metabolism. MOL. PLANT 5:964-967.
- Sangari FJ, Pérez-Gil J, Carretero-Paulet L, García-Lobo JM, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2010) A new family of enzymes catalyzing the first committed step of the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis in bacteria. PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI. USA 107: 14081-14086 COVER.
- Toledo-Ortiz G, Huq E, Rodríguez-Concepción M* (2010) Direct regulation of phytoene synthase gene expression and carotenoid biosynthesis by phytochrome-interacting factors. PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI. USA 107: 11626-11631 COVER.
Projects
PINC – Protein Interaction Networks regulating Carotenoid biosynthesis
Entidad financiadora: Proyecto PID2023-149584NB-I00 financiado por MCIN/ AEI /10.13039/501100011033
Desde 01/09/2024 hasta 31/08/2027. IP: Manuel Rodríguez-Concepción
BioVal+ – Un nuevo bioestimulante para la producción de metabolitos saludables de alto valor añadido
Entidad financiadora: Generalitat Valenciana (AGROALNEXT/2022/067)
Desde 01/09/2022 hasta 29/06/2025 (prórroga de 6 meses, hasta 31/12/2025) IPs: Manuel Rodríguez-Concepción / Jorge Lozano Juste
ChromoGen – Mecanismos moleculares de la biogenesis de cromoplastos
Entidad financiadora: Proyecto PID2020-115810GB-I00 financiado por MCIN/ AEI /10.13039/501100011033
Desde 01/09/2021 hasta 31/05/2025 prórroga 9 meses. IP: Manuel Rodríguez-Concepción
UToPIQ – Use of Tomato lines tolerant to Proximity shade to Increase yield and Quality in intercropping agrosystems
Entidad financiadora: MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y Unión Europea NextGeneration EU/PRTR, programa PRIMA (PCI2021-121941)
Desde 01/06/2021 hasta 31/05/2024 (prórroga de 10 meses, hasta 31/03/2025). IP: Manuel Rodríguez-Concepción
ENIGmA – Exploring Novel plant-to-plant Intercommunication pathways Governing environmental Acclimation
Entidad financiadora: Generalitat Valenciana, Programa Prometeo para grupos de excelencia (PROMETEO/2021/056)
Desde 01/01/2021 hasta 31/12/2024. IPs: Jaime F. Martínez-Garcia / M. Purificación Lisón
NeoVit – Nuevas herramientas biotecnológicas para mejorar la producción y el almacenaje de vitaminas A y E en células vegetales
Entidad financiadora: MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ y FEDER – Una manera de hacer Europa (BIO2017-84041-P)
Desde 01/01/2018 hasta 31/12/2020 (prorrogado hasta 31/09/2021). IP: Manuel Rodríguez-Concepción
Other publications
Patent
Thesis
19 – Ariadna Iglesias Sánchez – Role of Plant Fibrillin 6 and Alternative Oxidase during Carotenoid Biosynthesis and Stress Response. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 18/10/2024
18 – Laura Valverde Carbajal – Base genética de la coloración de la pulpa de melón. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 12/02/2024
17 – Miguel Ezquerro Urzanqui – Unraveling new roles of geranylgeranyl diphosphate and phytoene synthases in tomato. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 02/12/2022 – DOCTORADO INTERNACIONAL
16 – Xueni Di – Feedback regulation of the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 14/11/2022
15 – Salvador Torres Montilla – Molecular mechanisms of plastidial differentiation. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 25/02/2022 – DOCTORADO INTERNACIONAL
14 – Luca Morelli – Exploring an artificial chromoplast system for enrichment of plant leaves in isoprenoid vitamins. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 17/09/2021 – DOCTORADO INTERNACIONAL
13 – Miguel Simón Moya – Unveiling the role of Phytochrome Interacting Factor 1 (PIF1) homologs in tomato. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 17/09/2020 – DOCTORADO INTERNACIONAL
12 – M. Victoria Barja Afonso – Exploring the diversity of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 21/02/2019 – DOCTORADO INTERNACIONAL
11 – Ernesto Llamas Pámanes – Unveiling the role of DXS-Interacting (DXI) proteins in the regulation of plastidial isoprenoid biosynthesis. Universitat de Barcelona, 15/09/2017
10 – Miriam Ortiz Alcaide – Interrelación entre la respuesta a sombra y la síntesis de carotenoides en Arabidopsis thaliana. Universitat de Barcelona, 10/05/2017
09 – Lucio D’Andrea – Molecular regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in tomato fruit: new biotechnological strategies. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 25/07/2016 – DOCTORADO INTERNACIONAL – PREMIO EXTRAORDINARIO DE DOCTORADO
08 – M. Águila Ruiz Sola – Canalización de precursores hacia la biosíntesis de isoprenoides plastídicos en Arabidopsis thaliana. Universitat de Barcelona, 6/05/2014
07 – Catalina Perelló Llabrés – Identificación de mecanismos reguladores de la síntesis de isoprenoides plastídicos mediante la caracterización de mutantes de Arabidopsis thaliana. Universitat de Barcelona, 18/12/2013 – DOCTORADO EUROPEO
06 – Jordi Pérez Gil – Biosíntesi d’isoprenoides en bacteris i plantes. Aproximacions biotecnològiques. Universitat de Barcelona, 25/01/2013 – PREMIO EXTRAORDINARIO DE DOCTORADO
05 – Antía Rodríguez Villalón – Biosíntesis de carotenoides en Escherichia coli y tejidos no fotosintéticos de Arabidopsis thaliana. Universitat de Barcelona, 20/05/2010
04 – Eva Urós Gracia – Identificación y caracterización de reacciones alternativas a las de la ruta MEP para la síntesis de precursores isoprenoides en Escherichia coli. Universitat de Barcelona, 19/06/2009
03 – Úrsula Flores Pérez – Mecanismos reguladores de la biosíntesis de isoprenoides en plastos de Arabidopsis thaliana. Universitat de Barcelona, 20/06/2008 – DOCTORADO EUROPEO
02 – Susanna Sauret Güeto – Estrategias genéticas para el estudio de la síntesis de isoprenoides en bacterias y plastos. Universitat de Barcelona, 17/03/2005 – PREMIO EXTRAORDINARIO DE DOCTORADO
01 – Oscar Besumbes Calvo – Aproximaciones biotecnológicas y proteómicas para el análisis de la producción de taxadieno, el primer intermediario específico de la biosíntesis de Taxol, en Arabidopsis thaliana. Universitat de Barcelona, 2/04/2004
