Vitamin E in Plants: Biosynthesis, Transport, and Function. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muñoz, Paula; Munné-Bosch, Sergi
• Is Part Of: Trends in plant science. Volume 24:Number 11(2019)
• Page Start: 1040
• Page End: 1051
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: antioxidants -- chloroplasts -- retrograde signaling -- tocopherols -- tocotrienols -- Vitamin E; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; Botany; Periodicals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.08.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-1385

Abstract

Abstract : Vitamin E, which includes both tocopherols and tocotrienols, comprises lipid-soluble antioxidants that modulate lipid peroxidation. Recently, significant advances have been made in our understanding of vitamin E biosynthesis, transport, and function. The phytyl moiety from chlorophyll degradation is used for tocopherol biosynthesis. An α-tocopherol-binding protein (TBP) has been identified in tomato (SlTBP) serving in intraorganellar vitamin E transport in plants. Moreover, α-tocopherol not only scavenges free radicals through flip-flop movements in the lipid bilayer, but may also contribute to fine-tuning the transmission of specific signals outside chloroplasts. Vitamin E, and α-tocopherol in particular, appear to be essential for plant development and help to provide the most suitable response to a number of environmental stresses. Highlights: α-Tocopherol is a lipophilic antioxidant synthesized from the methylerythritol and shikimate pathways in chloroplasts that modulate the extent of lipid peroxidation in plants. Increased α-tocopherol content, which is both biochemically and functionally related to chlorophyll loss, improves photoprotection. The recent discovery of an α-tocopherol-binding protein sheds light on intraorganellar prenyllipid transport in plants. High α-tocopherol content in some nonphotosynthetic tissues poses intriguing questions about the biosynthesis, transport, and function of vitamin E in plants.