M. Albrecht, S. Takaichi, Norihiko Misawa
Dec 3, 1997
Citations
1
Influential Citations
49
Citations
Journal
Journal of biotechnology
Abstract
A total of eight different hydroxy carotenoids were produced in transformants of the non-carotenogenic bacterium Escherichia coli. They include the acyclic 1-hydroxyneurosporene, 1-hydroxylycopene, 1,1'-dihydroxylycopene and demethylspheroidene as well as the cyclic 3-hydroxy-beta-zeacarotene, 7,8-dihydrozeaxanthin, 3 or 3'-7,8-dihydro-beta-carotene and 1'-hydroxy-gamma-carotene. Most of these uncommon carotenoids are found only in trace amounts in natural sources. For the synthesis of all the carotenoids mentioned above, E. coli was transformed with a combination of up to three compatible plasmids, which contained several carotenogenic genes from Erwinia uredovora and two Rhodobacter species. Their function in the pathway leading to the individual carotenoids was outlined. Finally, growth conditions were optimized for production of the hydroxy carotenoids in amounts which are suitable for their isolation and purification.