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Violaxanthin: natural function and occurrence, biosynthesis, and heterologous production
Miho Takemura1, Takehiko Sahara2, Norihiko Misawa3
1Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308, Suematsu, Nonoichi-shi, 921-8836, Japan.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
|August 2, 2021
Summary
Violaxanthin and antheraxanthin, crucial for light energy regulation in plants, are now produced in microbes like E. coli and yeast. This pathway engineering overcomes previous commercial unavailability of these epoxy-carotenoids.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry and biotechnology
- Metabolic engineering of microorganisms
Background:
- Violaxanthin and antheraxanthin are key epoxy-carotenoids in the xanthophyll cycle, essential for photoprotection in photosynthetic eukaryotes.
- Unlike other plant carotenoids, violaxanthin and antheraxanthin are commercially unavailable due to a lack of suitable natural sources.
- Metabolic pathway engineering in microbial hosts offers a promising strategy for their production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the natural occurrence, function, and biosynthesis of violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and related derivatives.
- To explore advances in heterologous microbial production of violaxanthin and antheraxanthin.
- To present new findings on violaxanthin production using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on violaxanthin and antheraxanthin biosynthesis and occurrence.
- Analysis of metabolic pathway engineering strategies for epoxy-carotenoid production in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- Experimental investigation of violaxanthin production in engineered budding yeast.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in the heterologous production of violaxanthin and antheraxanthin using microbial systems.
- Engineered Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains demonstrate potential for producing these valuable epoxy-carotenoids.
- The study highlights novel findings regarding violaxanthin production in budding yeast.
Conclusions:
- Heterologous microbial production is a viable approach to overcome the commercial unavailability of violaxanthin and antheraxanthin.
- Pathway engineering in microorganisms like yeast and E. coli holds significant promise for the sustainable supply of these epoxy-carotenoids.
- Further research in this area can lead to biotechnological applications and commercialization.
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