Provided herein are recombinant cells (e.g., recombinant bacteria or plant, insect, mammalian, and yeast cells) containing a nucleic acid encoding a CYP97A protein or a nucleic acid encoding a CYP97B protein; a nucleic acid encoding a CYP97C protein; a nucleic acid encoding a geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase protein; a nucleic acid encoding a phytoene synthase protein; a nucleic acid encoding a phytoene desaturase protein; a nucleic acid encoding a lycopene -cyclase protein; and a nucleic acid encoding a lycopene -cyclase protein. Also provided are methods of producing lutein that include culturing these recombinant cells (e.g., recombinant bacteria and yeast cells), and methods of generating these recombinant cells (e.g., recombinant bacteria and yeast cells). Also provided is lutein produced by these methods, and pharmaceutical compositions, food supplements, food products, and cosmetic compositions that contain lutein produced by these methods.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods of producing xanthophylls in microorganisms.

Methods to produce oils with modified profiles of fatty acid, carotenoids and/or terpenoids in microalgal mutants are provided. Microalgal mutants produce the oil containing fatty acids, carotenoids and/or terpenoids of a modified profile with a disruption or ablation of one or more alleles of an endogenous polynucleotide or comprising an exogeneous gene are also provided.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods of producing carotenoids and carotenoid derivatives.

A method for producing a carotenoid or apocarotenoid is disclosed. The method comprises the step of expressing in a host cell an expression module comprising an expression vector having a coding region encoding at least one optimised carotenoid or apocarotenoid generating enzyme, the coding region being operably linked to a promoter. A host cell comprising an expression vector having a coding region encoding at least one optimised carotenoid or apocarotenoid generating enzyme, the coding region being operably linked to a promoter is also provided together with a kit.

A method for producing a carotenoid or apocarotenoid is disclosed. The method comprises the step of expressing in a host cell an expression module comprising an expression vector having a coding region encoding at least one optimised carotenoid or apocarotenoid generating enzyme, the coding region being operably linked to a promoter. A host cell comprising an expression vector having a coding region encoding at least one optimised carotenoid or apocarotenoid generating enzyme, the coding region being operably linked to a promoter is also provided together with a kit.

Methods to produce oils with modified profiles of fatty acid, carotenoids and/or terpenoids in microalgal mutants are provided. Microalgal mutants produce the oil containing fatty acids, carotenoids and/or terpenoids of a modified profile with a disruption or ablation of one or more alleles of an endogenous polynucleotide or comprising an exogeneous gene are also provided.