Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha

Marine Biotechnology Institute Co., Ltd.

Norihiko Misawa

Keiji Kondo

Susumu Kajiwara

Akihiro Yokoyama

Kazuo Kobayashi

Katsumi Nakamura

Shigeyuki Yamano

The production of carotenoid is accomplished using a DNA molecule that encodes a polypeptide as obtained from or having isopentonyl pyrophosphate (IPP) isomerase activity, or DNA molecule having a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes thereto. In particular, one can introduce such a DNA molecule into a carotenoid-producing microorganism, culture the microorganism thus transformed, and then obtain carotenoids in the culture broth and cells.

Methods of producing carotenoids using DNA molecules encoding isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase

Disclosed are the following DNA strands relating to the synthesis of keto group-containing xanthophylls such as astaxanthin and the like, and the techniques relating to the production of xanthophylls by genetic engineering: A DNA strand having a nucleotide sequence which encodes a polypeptide having an enzyme activity for converting a methylene group at the 4-position of a .beta.-ionone ring into a keto group. A DNA strand having a nucleotide sequence which encodes a polypeptide having an enzyme activity for converting a methylene group at the 4-position of a 3-hydroxy-.beta.-ionone ring into a keto group. A DNA strand having a nucleotide sequence which encodes a polypeptide having an enzyme activity for adding a hydroxyl group to the 3-carbon of a 4-keto-.beta.-ionone ring. It is possible to produce a variety of xanthophylls such as canthaxanthin, astaxanthin and the like by introducing the DNA strands into an appropriate microorganism such as Escherichia coli and the like.

DNA strands useful for the synthesis of xanthophylls and the process for

Disclosed are the following DNA strands relating to the synthesis of keto group-containing xanthophylls such as astaxanthin and the like, and the techniques relating to the production of xanthophylls by genetic engineering:

Keto group-introducing enzyme, DNA coding therefor and method for

Transformation systems for the yeast candida utilis and the expression

Disclosed are DNA sequences which are useful for the synthesis of carotenoids such as lycopene, .beta.-carotene, zeaxanthin or zeaxanthin-diglucoside, that is, DNA sequences encoding carotenoid biosynthesis enzymes. These DNA sequences are the sequences 1- 6, respectively, shown in the specification. Also disclosed is a process for producing a carotenoid compound which is selected from the group consisting of prephytoene pyrophosphate, phytoene, lycopene, .beta.-carotene, zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin-diglucoside, which comprises transforming a host with at least one of the DNA sequences 1- 6 described above and culturing the transformant.

DNA sequences useful for the synthesis of carotenoids

Disclosed are DNA sequences which are useful for the synthesis of carotenoids such as lycopene, .beta.-carotene, zeaxanthin or zeaxanthin-diglucoside, that is, DNA sequences encoding carotenoid biosynthesis enzymes. These DNA sequences are the sequences 1-6 shown in the specification. Also disclosed is a process for producing a carotenoid or a carotenoid related compound which is selected from the group consisting of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, phytoene, lycopene, .beta.-carotene, zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin-diglucoside, which comprises transforming a host with at least one of the DNA sequences 1-6 described above and culturing the transformant.

Growing community of inventors

Yokohama, Japan

Norihiko Misawa