Xanthophyll cycle is a pathway that transforms zeaxanthin to violaxanthin and antheraxanthin through enzymes. Xanthophyll cycle mainly takes place in diatoms and dinoflagellates of plants in high-light condition. Zeaxanthin is obatined from zeaxanthin biosynthesis that transforms lycopene to zeaxanthin (indirectly). Zeaxanthin is catalyzed into antheraxanthin and antheraxanthin catalyzed into violaxanthin both by the enzyme, zeaxanthin epoxidase with cofactor FAD. Violaxanthin deepoxidase/antheraxanthin deepoxidase can reverse the above reactions (i.e. violaxanthin to antheraxanthin and antheraxanthin to zeaxanthin).

Xanthophyll Cycle References