4-Hydoxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4-HPPD) catalyzes the conversion of the 4- hydroxyphenylpyruvate to homogentisate in the biosynthesis pathway of plastoquinone and tocopherol. Inhibition of the production of homogentisate by 4-HPPD inhibitors down- regulates the production of plastoquinone, which is thought to be an acceptor of hydrogen from phytoene. Therefore, the absence of plastoquinone leads to an accumulation of the ...