Bioengineering of the Optimized Biosynthesis of Commercially Vital Carotenoids- Techno-Advanced Applications

Abstract

Beta-carotene, a carotenoid found in plants, fungi, and algae, is a crucial antioxidant and anti-cancer agent. It is primarily derived from plants, algae, and microbes, but this method has drawbacks like high costs and low productivity. The growing demand for carotenoids has led to large-scale industrial manufacturing. However, extracting and synthesizing these chemicals can be costly and technical. Microbial synthesis offers a cost-effective alternative. Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering technologies have been used in various studies for the optimization of pathways for the overproduction of carotenoids. Four metabolic components are involved in carotenoid biosynthesis, central carbon (C), isoprene supplement, and cofactor metabolism. Metabolic engineering is a potential solution to enhance β-carotene production. This article explores the biochemical routes, methods used by natural microbial species, and metabolic engineering potential of microbial organisms for β-carotenoids production. Currently, Escherichia coli, certain euglena and yeast species are the primary microorganisms used in metabolic engineering, offering minimal environmental impact, cost-effective manufacturing, and high yield.