Production of beta-carotene in Zymomonas mobilis and Agrobacterium tumefaciens by introduction of the biosynthesis genes from Erwinia uredovora

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1991 Jun;57(6):1847-9. doi: 10.1128/aem.57.6.1847-1849.1991.

Abstract

The Erwinia uredovora crtB, crtE, crtI, and crtY genes required for beta-carotene biosynthesis were introduced by conjugal transfer into an ethanol-producing bacterium, Zymomonas mobilis, and a phytopathogenic bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, in which no carotenoid is synthesized. The transconjugants of Z. mobilis and A. tumefaciens carrying these genes appeared as yellow colonies and produced 220 and 350 micrograms of beta-carotene per g of dry weight, respectively, in the stationary phase in liquid culture.

MeSH terms

  • Carotenoids / biosynthesis*
  • Conjugation, Genetic
  • Erwinia / genetics*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / genetics
  • Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Plasmids
  • Rhizobium / genetics
  • Rhizobium / metabolism*
  • beta Carotene

Substances

  • beta Carotene
  • Carotenoids