Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for in vivo production or biosynthesis of metabolites in foreign cells using the combination of (i) one or more ferredoxin dependent enzyme(s) and (ii) a ferredoxin (Fd)/ferredoxin-NADP.sup.+ reductase (FNR) system. The ferredoxin dependent enzymes and the Fd/FNR system are from the same species or from a different but matching species.

Disclosed is a method for producing phycocyanobilin by use of a recombinant Escherichia coli that express heterologous heme oxygenase ho1 and ferredoxin oxidoreductase pcyA derived from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. According to the present disclosure, heterologous expression of ho1 and pcyA genes leads to conversion of heme to an intermediate biliverdin for phycocyanobilin synthesis, and reduces the accumulation of biliverdin in the process of the phycocyanobilin synthesis. The genome of E. coli is further engineered to overexpress related genes of a metabolic pathway of phycocyanobilin, and a strain of recombinant E. coli with high yield of phycocyanobilin is obtained. The recombinant E. coli strain is cultured for 36 hr in a system using glycerol as a substrate, and the phycocyanobilin yield can reach 147 mg/L.

Disclosed is a method for producing phycocyanobilin by use of a recombinant Escherichia coli that express heterologous heme oxygenase ho1 and ferredoxin oxidoreductase pcyA derived from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. According to the present disclosure, heterologous expression of ho1 and pcyA genes leads to conversion of heme to an intermediate biliverdin for phycocyanobilin synthesis, and reduces the accumulation of biliverdin in the process of the phycocyanobilin synthesis. The genome of E. coli is further engineered to overexpress related genes of a metabolic pathway of phycocyanobilin, and a strain of recombinant E. coli with high yield of phycocyanobilin is obtained. The recombinant E. coli strain is cultured for 36 hr in a system using glycerol as a substrate, and the phycocyanobilin yield can reach 147 mg/L.