Patent ID: 6124113
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: C07K,C12N,C12P

Abstract:
A process for preparing zeaxanthin comprising the steps of:a) culturing, in a suitable medium containing farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate under culture conditions sufficient for the expression of enzymes which catalyze the conversion of the farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate to zeaxanthin, a transformed host cell containing an expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide having the following DNA sequences:i) a DNA sequence which encodes the geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtE),ii) a DNA sequence which encodes the prephytoene synthase of Flavobacterium sp.R1534 (crtB),iii) a DNA sequence which encodes the phytoene desaturase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtI),iv) a DNA sequence which encodes the lycopene cyclase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtY), andv) a DNA sequence which encodes the .beta.-carotene hydroxylase of Flavobacterium sp.R1534 (crtZ),the polynucleotide being substantially free of other polynucleotides of Flavobacterium sp. R1534; andb) isolating the zeaxanthin from such cells or the culture medium.