A shady business in Legumes: Lutein epoxidase enables α-xanthophyll cycling

A shady business in Legumes: Lutein epoxidase enables α-xanthophyll cycling | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article A shady business in Legumes: Lutein epoxidase enables α-xanthophyll cycling Laurie Leonelli, Komal Attri, Jake Harris, Matthew Brooks This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4745347/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Leaves rapidly adjust their xanthophyll pool in response to changes in light to funnel absorbed excitation energy toward either photochemistry or photoprotective energy dissipation. In roughly 60% of species surveyed, α-xanthophylls are interconverted between photoprotective lutein (L) and shade-enriched lutein epoxide (Lx), forming the lutein epoxide cycle (LxL cycle). Despite its prevalence, the enzyme involved in the epoxidation reaction of the LxL cycle is unknown. Using pigment profiling and canopy-specific RNAseq, we detect Lx throughout the middle and lower canopy of soybean and link its accumulation to the expression of a mono-oxygenase we call lutein epoxidase (LEP). We confirm LEP activity in a transient assay in Nicotiana benthamiana. LEPs are distinct from zeaxanthin epoxidases (ZEPs) and are conserved across many legumes. The discovery of an enzyme involved in α-xanthophyll cycling in an agriculturally important crop presents us with a new target for optimizing plant productivity in the shade. Biological sciences/Plant sciences/Photosynthesis/Non-photochemical quenching Biological sciences/Plant sciences/Light responses Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files TableS5.xlsx Supplemental Table 5 SupTables.pdf Contains supplementary tables S1- S4, and S6-S7. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4745347","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":337117288,"identity":"e1e7637e-4ccb-4101-b6da-fd6c6ea89d4f","order_by":0,"name":"Laurie 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