Oilseed-based metabolic engineering of astaxanthin and related ketocarotenoids using a plant-derived pathway: Lab-to-field-to-application.

ABSTRACT: Ketocarotenoids, including astaxanthin, are red lipophilic pigments derived from the oxygenation of β-carotene ionone rings. These carotenoids have exceptional antioxidant capacity and high commercial value as natural pigments, especially for aquaculture feedstocks to confer red flesh colour to salmon and shrimp. Ketocarotenoid biosynthetic pathways occur only in selected bacterial, algal, fungal and plant species, which provide genetic resources for biotechnological ketocarotenoid production. Toward pathway optimization, we developed a transient platform for ketocarotenoid production using Agrobacterium infiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves with plant (Adonis aestivalis) genes, carotenoid β-ring 4-dehydrogenase 2 (CBFD2) and carotenoid 4-hydroxy-β-ring 4-dehydrogenase (HBFD1), or b

SUBMITTER: Kim H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12310876 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature