Biosynthesis & Carotenoids

Carotenoids are a group of pigments synthesized by plants, algae, and some bacteria. The biosynthesis of carotenoids involves the isoprenoid or terpenoid pathway, which is a specialized branch of the metabolic pathway for producing isoprenoid compounds. The process begins with the condensation of two molecules of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) to form phytoene, which is then converted to various carotenoids through a series of enzymatic reactions. The biosynthesis pathway of carotenoids is similar in microalgae and plants, but it is more complicated in microalgae due to gene loss, gene transfer, and other factors. The regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis involves the control of flux through the pathway, sequestration, storage capacity, and catabolism…