Metabolic Engineering for Efficient Ketocarotenoid Accumulation in the Green Microalga .

Astaxanthin is a valuable ketocarotenoid with various pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Green microalgae harbor natural capacities for pigment accumulation due to their 2--methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. Recently, a redesigned ß-carotene ketolase (BKT) was found to enable ketocarotenoid accumulation in the model microalga , and transformants exhibited reduced photoinhibition under high-light.