Engineering novel carotenoids in microorganisms

Abstract

A considerable number of microbial and plant carotenoid biosynthesis genes have been cloned over the past few years. Functional heterologous expression of most of these genes has made it possible to engineer carotenoid biosynthesis in non-carotenogenic E. coli and yeasts. Recently, gene combination and molecular breeding of pathways have been used to produce novel and rare high-value carotenoids.