biostudies-literatureWang WFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesNational Natural Science Foundation of China (CN)National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaKey Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Science120https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6610952biostudies-literatureUnknown18(1)<h4>Background</h4>Crocin is a carotenoid-derived natural product found in the stigma of Crocus spp., which has great potential in medicine, food and cosmetics. In recent years, microbial production of crocin has drawn increasing attention, but there were no reports of successful implementation. Escherichia coli has been engineered to produce various carotenoids, including lycopene, β-carotene and astaxanthin. Therefore, we intended to construct E. coli cell factories for crocin biosynthesis.<h4>Results</h4>In this study, a heterologous crocetin and crocin synthesis pathway was first constructed in E. coli. Firstly, the three different zeaxanthin-cleaving dioxygenases CsZCD, CsCCD2 from Crocus sativus, and CaCCD2 from Crocus ancyrensis, as well as the glycosyltransferases UGT94E5 and UGT75Microbial cell factoriesConstruction of Escherichia coli cell factories for crocin biosynthesis.PMC661095231861143019KFZD-SW-21531522002Ye LZheng JDai LBi CZhang XWang WZhao DSun YHe PfalseConstruction of Escherichia coli cell factories for crocin biosynthesis.<h4>Background</h4>Crocin is a carotenoid-derived natural product found in the stigma of Crocus spp., which has great potential in medicine, food and cosmetics. In recent years, microbial production of crocin has drawn increasing attention, but there were no reports of successful implementation. Escherichia coli has been engineered to produce various carotenoids, including lycopene, β-carotene and astaxanthin. Therefore, we intended to construct E. coli cell factories for crocin biosynthesis.<h4>Results</h4>In this study, a heterologous crocetin and crocin synthesis pathway was first constructed in E. coli. Firstly, the three different zeaxanthin-cleaving dioxygenases CsZCD, CsCCD2 from Crocus sativus, and CaCCD2 from Crocus ancyrensis, as well as the glycosyltransferases UGT94E5 and UGT752019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Jul2026-05-07T16:50:24.894Z2019-07-25T07:04:52ZS-EPMC66109523127766010.1186/s12934-019-1166-1