Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Carotenoids in a Heterologous Host: A Powerful Approach for the Biosynthesis of Novel Structures

• Published in: Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology 2002-07, Vol.3 (7), p.629-635
• Main Author: Sandmann, Gerhard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antioxidants; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - metabolism; carotenoids; Carotenoids - biosynthesis; Carotenoids - chemistry; Carotenoids - genetics; carotogenic genes; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques - methods; Enzymes - metabolism; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Fungi - genetics; Fungi - metabolism; metabolic engineering; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism; Substrate Specificity; terpenoids; Transformation, Genetic
• ISSN: 1439-4227; 1439-7633
• DOI: 10.1002/1439-7633(20020703)3:7<629::AID-CBIC629>3.0.CO;2-5

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. Antioxidants for all! Existing biosynthetic pathways can be modified or novel pathways established by the introduction of foreign genes into a host organisms. This combinatorial biosynthesis approach is successfully employed for the biosynthesis of special carotenoids (see picture). Structures not found in nature before can be tailored by combining appropriate genes from organisms with different carotenogenic pathways. Chimeric carotenoids with superior antioxidative activity can be aimed at and obtained. Metabolic engineering of the host's precursor supply ensures production of substantial amounts of the desired carotenoid.