Combinatorial biosynthesis of carotenoids in a heterologous host: a powerful approach for the biosynthesis of novel structures.

Carotenoids are commercially important pigments with high antioxidative potential. A variety of structures can be biosynthesized in the heterologous host Escherichia coli after transformation with combinations of genes from prokaryotes, lower and higher plants. Among the produced carotenoids are novel structures with superior antioxidative activity. In this article, the concept of the combinatorial biosynthesis approach, E. coli as a carotenoid production system, and metabolic engineering of precursor supply are covered.