Metabolism of plastid terpenoids. I. Biosynthesis of phytoene in plastid stroma isolated from higher plants

Abstract

Using prephytoene pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate as substrates, the synthesis of phytoene was demonstrated for the first time in chlorolasts, etioplasts and amyloplasts. The stromal fraction was the sole site of phytoene synthesis. These data were complemented by the fact that the enzymatic activity in each plastid stroma was progressively lost after immunoprecipitation with an antiserum directed against Capsicum chromoplast phytoene synthetase enzyme complex.