Abstract: Genes have been isolated from Pectobacterium cypripedii encoding geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase (CrtE), phytoene synthase (CrtB), phytoene desaturase (Crtl), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), ?-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ), and zeaxanthin glucosyl transferase (CrtX) activity. The genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.

Abstract: Protein engineered nucleic acid fragments encoding a CrtO ketolase and a CrtZ hydroxylase are provided with increased astaxanthin synthesis activity. Methods using the present nucleic acid fragments are also provided for increasing or altering astaxanthin production in suitable production hosts.

Abstract: Genes have been isolated from Rhodococcus and Deinococcus which encode a specific lycopene ?-cyclase capable of converting acyclic carotenoids with at least one ?-end group to the corresponding asymmetric carotenoid containing a single ?-ionone ring end group. The genes are new. Transformed host cells expressing the present genes and methods for the bio-conversion of acylic carotenoid substrates to corresponding asymmetric carotenoid are also provided.

Abstract: Genes have been isolated from strain DC260, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, encoding geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthetase (CrtE), phytoene synthase (CrtB), phytoene desaturase (CrtI), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), ?-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ), and zeaxanthin glucosyl transferase (CrtX) activity. The genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.

Abstract: Genes have been isolated from Rhodococcus erythropolis AN12 strain encoding the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway. The genes and gene products are the first isolated from a Rhodococcus strain. The genes and gene products of the present invention may be used in a variety of ways for the production of isoprenoid compounds in a variety of organisms.

Abstract: A novel CrtZ carotenoid hydroxylase, isolated from Brevundimonas vesicularis DC263, is provided that is useful for the production of hydroxylated carotenoids. Additionally, a previously identified hypothetical protein from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans has found to have carotenoid hydroxylase activity. Both hydroxylase genes exhibit low homology in comparison to other CrtZ hydroxylases previously reported. Expression of the hydroxylases in heterologous host cells enabled production of hydroxylated carotenoids.

Abstract: A ketolase gene has been isolated from Rhodococcus erythropolis AN12 strain encoding a carotenoid modification enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The gene and gene product are the first isolated from a Rhodococcus strain. Six conserved amino acid motifs have been identified as the characteristic of this type of ketolase enzymes. The gene and gene product of the present invention may be used in a variety of ways for the production of keto-carotenoid compounds in a variety of organisms.

Abstract: Protein engineered CrtO ketolases are provided having increased carotenoid ketolase activity. Methods using the present CrtO ketolases are also provided for increasing ketocarotenoid production in suitable production hosts.

Abstract: A ketolase gene has been isolated from Rhodococcus erythropolis AN12 strain encoding a carotenoid modification enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The gene and gene product are the first isolated from a Rhodococcus strain. Six conserved amino acid motifs have been identified as the characteristic of this type of ketolase enzymes. The gene and gene product of the present invention may be used in a variety of ways for the production of keto-carotenoid compounds in a variety of organisms.

Abstract: Novel CrtW carotenoid ketolase are provided that are useful for the production of ketocarotenoids. The ketolases genes of the present invention exhibit low homology in comparison to other CrtW ketolases previously reported. Expression of the carotenoid ketolases in heterologous hosts enabled production of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. Coexpression experiments using divergent crtW genes resulted in increased production of the desired ketocarotenoids.

Abstract: A method for the production of aryl-carotenoids is provided through bioconversion of cyclic carotenoids having at least one ?-ionone ring. Expression of a heterologous gene encoding a carotene desaturase (crtU) enzyme in a host cell that produces a suitable cyclic carotenoid substrate effect the production of aryl carotenoids.

Abstract: A unique carotenogenic biosynthetic gene cluster has been isolated from Panteoa agglomerans strain DC404, wherein the genetic organization of the cluster is crtE-idi-crtY-crtI-crtB-crtZ. The genes contained within this cluster encode geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthetase (CrtE), isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (Idi), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), phytoene desaturase (CrtI), phytoene synthase (CrtB), and ?-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ). The gene cluster, genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention describes a mutant plasmid replication control region having the ability to convey a phenotype of altered plasmid copy number to the plasmid on which it resides. The mutant replication control region is based on a similar region isolated from the pBBR1 plasmid family. Plasmids containing this replication control region cannot be classed as belonging to any known incompatibility group and thus may co-exist with a broad range of other plasmids in a single host.

Abstract: Methanotrophic bacterial strains are provided that have been optimized for the production of carotenoid compounds through the down-regulation of one or more of the crtN1, aid, crtN2 and crtN3 genes of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The resulting strains lack pigmented C30 carotenoid compounds, and show an increase in the production of C40 carotenoids. The use of the optimized host strains for the production of the C40 carotenoids canthaxanthin and astaxanthin is also described.

Abstract: A method for the in vivo bioconversion of cyclic carotenes having a ?-ionone ring to the corresponding aryl carotene is provided. Gram negative host cells expressing a heterologous, codon-optimized gene encoding a carotene desaturase are grown in the presence of a suitable cyclic carotene substrate to effect the production of aromatic carotenoids.

Abstract: A carotenogenic biosynthetic gene cluster has been isolated from Panteoa stewartii strain DC413, wherein the genetic organization of the cluster is crtE-idi-crt)(-crtY-crtI-crtB-crtZ. The genes contained within this cluster encode geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthetase (CrtE), isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (Idi), zeaxanthin glucosyl transferase (CrtX), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), phytoene desaturase (Crtl), phytoene synthase (CrtB), and ?-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ). The gene cluster, genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to engineer microorganisms for the production of C30-aldehyde carotenoids. Specifically, various combinations of crtM, sqs, crtN and crtN2 genes from Staphylococcus aureus and Methylomonas sp. 16a can be co-expressed in transformant hosts, leading to the production of diaponeurosporene monoaldehyde, diapocarotene monoaldehyde, and/or diapocarotene dialdehyde. In a preferred embodiment, the genetically engineered pathway is introduced into a strain of Escherichia coli that has been engineered for the expression of carotenoids, and the C30-carotenoid product is diapocarotene dialdehyde.

Abstract: Genes have been isolated from strain DC260, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, encoding geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthetase (CrtE), phytoene synthase (CrtB), phytoene desaturase (CrtI), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), &bgr;-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ), and zeaxanthin glucosyl transferase (CrtX) activity. The genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.

Abstract: A unique carotenogenic biosynthetic gene cluster has been isolated from Panteoa agglomerans strain DC404, wherein the genetic organization of the cluster is crtE-idi-crtY-crtI-crtB-crtZ. The genes contained within this cluster encode geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthetase (CrtE), isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (Idi), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), phytoene desaturase (CrtI), phytoene synthase (CrtB), and &bgr;-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ). The gene cluster, genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.

Abstract: Genes have been isolated from Pectobacterium cypripedii encoding geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase (CrtE), phytoene synthase (CrtB), phytoene desaturase (Crtl), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), &bgr;-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ), and zeaxanthin glucosyl transferase (CrtX) activity. The genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.