Light Regulation of Ascorbic Acid Biosynthesis in Rice via Light Responsive cis-Elements in Genes Encoding Ascorbic Acid Biosynthetic Enzymes

Abstract

The ascorbic acid (AsA) content and the mRNA levels of L-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase (GPPase), and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) increased by intense light, and decreased in the dark. Moreover, the promoter regions of GPPase and GalLDH contained light responsible cis-elements. These results suggest that in rice, AsA synthesis is regulated by light.