Coordinating plant pigment production: A green role for ORANGE family proteins

Chlorophylls and carotenoids are essential pigments for photosynthesis and plastid/plant development. Chlorophylls are utilized for light harvesting and primary charge separation, whereas carotenoids are accessory light-harvesting pigments that also play major roles in photoprotection, in the assembly and stability of photosystems, and as precursors to phytohormones and other important signaling molecules. The biosynthesis of these pigments must be precisely regulated to ensure their balanced production for the synthesis, assembly, and maintenance of the photosynthetic apparatus.