Carotenoid biosynthesis in microorganisms and plants

CONTENTS. Carotenogenic in vitro systems – Strategies for the cloning of carotenogenic genes – Enzymology and molecular genetics of the reactions leading to cyclic carotenoids – Synthesis of GGPP – Phytoene synthesis – Desaturation sequence of phytoene to lycopene – Mechanism – Isomerization – Genes and phylogenetic relationship – Enzyme purification – Localization – Regulation of the pathway and modulation of activity – Developmental and physiological regulation – Lycopene cyclization – Formation of xanthophylls derived from cyclic carotenoids – Hydroxy carotenoids – Keto carotenoids – Epoxy carotenoids – Formation of acyclic xanthophylls in Rhodobacter – Conclusion and outlook