BCO2
BCO2 (beta-carotene oxygenase 2, also known as BCDO2 or B-DIOX-II) is a broad-specificity mitochondrial dioxygenase that cleaves carotenoids asymmetrically. Through carotenoid metabolism it influences oxidative stress and the production of signalling molecules. Browse Assay Genie's current range of BCO2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
BCO2 is a mitochondrial dioxygenase that mediates the asymmetric oxidative cleavage of carotenoids. It acts on carotenes, which are pure hydrocarbon carotenoids such as all-trans-beta-carotene and lycopene, and on xanthophylls, which are oxygenated carotenoids such as zeaxanthin, lutein and beta-cryptoxanthin. In each case it cleaves at both the 9,10 and the 9',10' carbon-carbon double bond. Through this activity in carotenoid metabolism, BCO2 regulates oxidative stress and the production of important signalling molecules.
The BCO2 protein belongs to the carotenoid oxygenase family and is assigned to the HGNC gene group of beta-carotene oxygenases, alongside BCO1. UniProt lists its subcellular location as the mitochondrion, and its entry carries the EC numbers 1.13.11.- and 1.13.11.71. The NCBI Gene summary describes the BCO2 gene as encoding an enzyme that oxidises carotenoids such as beta-carotene during the biosynthesis of vitamin A, and notes that multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found. The mouse ortholog is Bco2.
The approved name, beta-carotene oxygenase 2, replaces the earlier name beta-carotene dioxygenase 2. Other aliases in use include BCDO2, B-DIOX-II and FLJ34464. Because of its wide substrate range across both carotenes and xanthophylls, BCO2 is a useful target for researchers studying carotenoid handling, mitochondrial enzymology and the link between carotenoid metabolism and oxidative stress.
BCO2 cleaves carotenes and xanthophylls asymmetrically, making it a central enzyme for studying how carotenoids are broken down.
Through carotenoid metabolism, BCO2 regulates oxidative stress, linking this mitochondrial enzyme to redox research.
The BCO2 gene encodes an enzyme that oxidises carotenoids such as beta-carotene during the biosynthesis of vitamin A.
As a mitochondrial dioxygenase with broad specificity, BCO2 is relevant to studies of enzyme localisation and substrate selectivity.
BCO2 is a mitochondrial dioxygenase that mediates asymmetric oxidative cleavage of carotenoids. It cleaves carotenes such as beta-carotene and lycopene, and xanthophylls such as zeaxanthin, lutein and beta-cryptoxanthin, at the 9,10 and 9',10' double bonds. Through this it regulates oxidative stress and signalling molecule production.
BCO2 is also called beta-carotene oxygenase 2, BCDO2, B-DIOX-II and FLJ34464, and was previously named beta-carotene dioxygenase 2. UniProt calls it carotenoid-cleaving dioxygenase, mitochondrial. NCBI reports multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms of the gene.
Yes. The mouse ortholog is Bco2, so rodent models can be used to study the enzyme. BCO2 belongs to the carotenoid oxygenase family and sits in the same HGNC gene group as BCO1. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Another beta-carotene oxygenase and a similarly named gene product with research reagents at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9BYV7; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.