Authors: Paul D. Fraser, Marilise Nogueira, Eugenia M.A. Enfissi, Laura Perez-Fons, Margit Drapal, Harriet Berry.

School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK 

Abstract: Ketocarotenoids are high-value natural red pigments with potent antioxidant activity. In the present study, system-level analyses have revealed that the heterologous biosynthesis of ketocarotenoids in tomato initiated a series of cellular and metabolic mechanisms to cope with the formation of metabolites that are non-endogenous to the plant. The broad multilevel changes were linked to, among others, (i) the remodelling of the plastidial membrane, where the synthesis and storage of ketocarotenoids occurs; (ii) the recruiting of core metabolic pathways for the generation of metabolite precursors and energy; and (iii) redox control. The involvement of the metabolites as regulators of cellular processes shown here reinforces their pivotal role suggested in the remodelled ‘central dogma’ concept. Furthermore, the role of metabolic reprogramming to ensure cellular homeostasis is proposed.

Professor Paul Fraser holds a University of London Chair in Biochemistry, he has worked in academia and industry on carotenoid/isoprenoid biosynthesis, regulation and manipulation. Metabolomic workflows and other omic technologies have underpinned the groups work for over a decade, which has seen the translational of scientific discovers to  commercial products ( https://www.thefraserlab-rhul.com/, https://uk.linkedin.com/in/fraser-group-3a5957295). 

He is the co-founder of Natural Compound Solutions which is an enterprise suppling reference standards (https://www.nat-com.co.uk/). Prof Fraser has coordinated multiple EU consortia and also acts as a UK government advisor for the Food Standard Agency (FSA), standing on the Novel foods and processes committee and sub-committee for genetic technologies.