Improving carotenoid production in synthetic maize through data-driven mathematical modeling ($)

Carotenoids are nutritionally important phytonutrients. Comas et al. describe a strategy to enhance the production of cartotenoids in the seed endosperm. They start with quantitative metabolomics and gene expression data which they feed into mathematical models to determine which gene(s) need to be engineered. Some of the genes they identify have been identified and verified previously, but others are newly identified as important for enhancing carotenoid biosynthesis. Plant J. 10.1111/tpj.13210