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