Transcriptional Regulation of Capsaicin Biosynthesis

The total amount of RNA transcribed in a tissue at specific point of time under constant environmental condition is referred to as transcriptome. Transcriptomic analysis is vital in understanding the developmental process in plants. The transcription factors are crucial in coordinating and regulating various processes in plants including the level of pungency. Neither the capsaicin biosynthetic pathway is well characterized nor is the regulation mechanism fully understood. The capsaicinoid biosynthetic pathway is presumed to involve more than 50 genes. Transcriptomic studies are helpful in understanding their expression pattern that would moderate the amount of capsaicin produced. An analysis of expression profile of various transcription factors (TFs) in different Capsicum varieties provides insights into regulatory mechanism of capsaicin biosynthetic pathway. Numerous studies have been conducted on capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes in different Capsicum varieties. The present chapter aims at developing an understanding of how various molecular mechanisms are involved in regulating capsaicin biosynthesis. It has also been explained why certain species are more pungent than others.