Abstract: The invention provides spray-dried preparations of microbes useful for oxidoreductase reactions, e.g., xylitol production, and methods of making and using those microbes.

Abstract: Novel lycopene beta-monocyclase genes were identified and used to transform a host cell to produce ?-cryptoxanthin. The host cell produces lycopene and is transformed to express the novel lycopene ?-monocyclase that converts lycopene into ?-carotene. The host cell is further transformed to express a lycopene hydroxylase that hydroxylates ?-carotene to 3-hydroxy-?-carotene and a lycopene ?-bicyclase that converts 3-hydroxy-?-carotene to ?-cryptoxanthin. The host cell is grown under conditions whereby ?-carotene is produced which is hydroxylated to 3-hydroxy-?-carotene and which is converted into ?-cryptoxanthin.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing ?-cryptoxanthin from a microorganism transformed with the ?-carotene hydroxylase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana by culturing the transformant in a medium and recovering ?-cryptoxanthin from the resultant culture. Both bacteria and yeasts were successfully transformed. Surprisingly, ?-cryptoxanthin is the dominant carotenoid produced by the transformant and was not significantly converted into zeaxanthin.