Main Carotenoids Produced by Microorganisms: Comparison
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Carotenoids are the pigments present in plants, animals, and microorganisms which are responsible for a broad variety of colors found in nature. Their capacity as antioxidants mainly established their marketable success as health, food, and feed supplements, and cosmetics components. Currently, chemical synthesis dominates the worldwide market; however, due to the high biological value of natural carotenoids, the production scheme is moving towards microbial production as a profitable alternative. 

  • fungi
  • bacteria
  • algae
  • carotenoids
  • carotene
  • xanthophyll
  • astaxanthin
  • beta-carotene
  • lutein
  • lycopene
  • zeaxanthin
  • canthaxanthin

1. Introduction

The simplest way to understand what carotenoids are is to look for colors in living organisms in a natural environment. Those reddish, orange, or yellowish pigments observed in living (micro)organisms are mainly carotenoids. They are one of the most widespread and ubiquitous lipid-soluble and non-nitrogenous pigments. Carotenoids form a subfamily of isoprenoids (also named terpenoids), which result in a diverse group of secondary metabolites. A prevalent example of this is the autumn colors and hues of trees and bushes. Other common examples of carotenoids include the orange-red condiment and food coloring annatto (derived from seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa Orellana)), petals, pollen (e.g., saffron), fruits (e.g., papaya, mandarins, oranges), vegetables (e.g., paprika, tomato), roots (e.g., carrots), animal tissues (e.g., salmonid and goldfish skin, flamingo and canary plumage, invertebrate exoskeletons), and animal products (e.g., egg yolks) (Figure 1) [1][2][3][4].
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Figure 1. Examples of different colored structures from natural environments where diverse carotenoids can be found. The center panel presents some of the most common carotenoid producers (fungi, algae, and bacteria) and the structure of a xanthophyll (upper: canthaxanthin) and a carotene (lower: β-carotene).
Based on their oxygenation status, carotenoids can be divided in two main groups: (i) oxygenated molecules (oxycarotenoids) and (ii) non-oxygenated molecules. On the one hand, oxycarotenoids including carbonyl, carboxylic acid, ester, epoxy, hydroxy and methoxy groups are the xanthophylls (e.g., astaxanthin (C40H52O4), canthaxanthin (C40H52O2), lutein (C40H56O2) or zeaxanthin (C40H56O2)). On the other hand, those strictly non-oxygenated molecules (hydrocarbons) are the carotenes (C40H56) (e.g., lycopene, α-carotene, β-carotene) (Figure 2) [2][3][5].
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Figure 2. Acyclic C40H56 model structure of a carotenoid molecule.
Nowadays, 722 organisms have been described as the source of the 1204 natural carotenoids currently defined in the Carotenoid DataBase (http://carotenoiddb.jp (accessed on updated: September 2020)) [6][7]. They are naturally produced by photosynthetic species (plants, algae, and cyanobacteria), some groups of fungi and some non-photosynthetic bacteria [4][8][9]. Although it is generally recognized that humans and animals are not able to produce their own carotenoids, the genome sequencing of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) detected carotenoid biosynthetic genes due to horizontal gene transfer from fungi [10][11].

1.1. Brief History of Carotenoids Discovery and Production

Carotenoids are taxonomically widespread and serve as pigments in plants and animals, and are the reason for the diverse and intense colors present in nature (Figure 1) [12]. Because of this colorful characteristic, these compounds were one of the earliest studied phytochemicals [13], leading to the study of carotenoid pigments that began in the nineteenth century and spanning 200 years. This history can be divided into four periods, as Otto Isler indicated in his book entitled Carotenoids, in 1971 [14].
Beginning in the 19th century (first period), the core of carotenoid analysis was the isolation of the pigments and their characterization through their light absorption measurements, although their structures were still widely unknown [15]. Henri Braconnot (1780–1855) was likely in charge of the first research on carotenoids in 1817, which was carried out in paprika (Capsicum annuum). More than a hundred years later (1927), a pigment from paprika was purified in its crystalline form under the name of capsanthin [9]. In 1818, Aschoff isolated an apocarotenoid named crocin (from the word “crocos”, which means saffron in German [16]). The apocarotenoids are carotenoid cleavage products as a result of the activity of specific carotenoid cleavage oxygenases [17][18]. Crocin is the chemical ingredient primarily responsible for the saffron color (Crocus sativus) [16][19]. A few years later, in 1823, the research on crab (Brachyura) developed by Goebel suggested for the first time the presence of carotenoids in animals. However, Heinrich Wackenroder (1798–1854) reached the best-recognized milestone in 1831 because of research on carrots (Daucus carota L.). He isolated and described for the first time the β-carotene as part of his analysis of carrot juice when he searched for an effective anthelminthic drug [20]. Subsequently, in 1837, the Swedish chemist Jöns J. Berzelius (1779–1848) defined the xanthophyll present in autumn leaves. Later, lycopene was isolated from berries of Tamus communis by Hartsen in 1873. A few years later, in 1903 Schunk gave its name (lycopene) when noticed that this tomato pigment had a different absorption spectrum than carrot carotenes [7][20][21][22][23].
Following this first period (19th century) of carotenoid research, which focused on their isolation, the second period (1900–1927) was based on the determination of the empirical formula of carotenoids. These tentative efforts to discover carotenoid’s role in photosynthesis were also capital [14]. Because of the different carotenoid characterizations, Richard Willstätter (1872–1942) and Walter Mieg established the empirical formula of β-carotene (C40H56) in 1907 [24]. In 1919, Harry Steenbock (1886–1967) observed growth promoting activity due to the carotenoids found in colored vegetables. He noticed how the yellow corn and yellow vegetables (e.g., sweet potato, carrots), in contrast to white vegetables (e.g., potato, parsnip), decreased the effect of lacking vitamin A [25]. Ten years later, Hans von Euler (1873–1964) and Paul Karrer (1889–1971) defined β-carotene as a good growth factor closely related to vitamin A (retinol). Later, the β-carotene and vitamin A structures were elucidated in 1930–1931 by Karrer, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1937 “for his investigations on carotenoids, flavins and vitamins A and B2” (the Nobel Prize: www.nobelprize.org, accessed on August 2021) [7][14].
The findings on vitamin A opened up the third period of carotenoid analysis. The provitamin A (β-carotene) concept was the core of this third carotenoid period (1928–1949). The idea of provitamins (molecules able to be transformed into vitamins by the organism) was a completely new concept, which resulted in great scientific and commercial significance. The elucidation of structural formula and the development of synthesis methods also fueled this third period [14]. This resulted in the number of known naturally occurring carotenoids growing from 15 to about 80 over 15 years (1933–1948). The structures of around 35 of these pigments were defined too. In 1947, the first chemical synthesis of crystalline vitamin A was announced by Isler and co-workers [26], which initiated the development of different industrial manufacturing procedures. In 1950, several groups allowed the total synthesis of β-carotene, which opened next period of carotenoid research.
The fourth period (1950–1990) increased the number of new carotenoids exponentially and led to extraordinary advances in carotenoid chemical synthesis, and their absolute configuration determination were reached. Thus, in 1960, Rhodia Inc. begun the production of methylheptenone from isoprene; BASF obtained iso-methylheptenone from isobutylene; Glidden Co. was able to synthesize citral from turpentine oil via myrcene [7]. Nowadays, the C40-carotenoids produced by industrial synthesis are reached by double Wittig condensation of symmetrical structures (e.g., identical end groups). However, just five out of the several hundred naturally occurring carotenoids (lycopene, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin, β,β–carotene, and zeaxanthin) and three apocarotenoids (β-apo-8′-carotenal, β-apo-8′-carotenoate, and citranaxanthin) are synthetically produced at industrial scales [27][28]. Only 50 carotenoids are valuable in human nutrition and up to 20 of them are typically detected in human blood and tissues, which come from the diet [3][29]. BASF SE, Kemin Industries, DSM Animal Nutrition, Novus International Inc, Biochem Products B.V., and Allied Biotech Corporation are the main worldwide players of the feed carotenoids market, which accounted for 81% of the overall revenue in 2020 (www.mordorintelligence.com, accessed on August 2021).
The need for commercial production of natural pigments boosted intensive research on the microbial biosynthesis of carotenoids, which can be considered the fifth period of carotenoids research (1991 to present). β-carotene and astaxanthin, for example, are extensively studied and industrially produced by microbial fermentation [3][28][30]. However, the screening of new producers of carotenoids (algae, bacteria, yeast and fungi), the development of fermentation processes or the use of genetic engineering or synthetic biology methodologies (e.g., search and use of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis, storage and catabolism) mark this fifth period [3][31][32][33].

1.2. What Are Carotenoids?

Based on their chemical characteristics, carotenoids are lipophilic compounds insoluble in water, which contain a chromophore. They comprise a long polyene central chain of conjugated double bonds (with a maximum absorbance of 400–500 nm), which is the reason for their characteristic yellow to reddish colors [3]. Following the IUPAC’s rule 1 about the definition of classes of compounds: “carotenoids are a class of hydrocarbons (carotenes) and their oxygenated derivatives (xanthophylls) consisting of eight isoprenoid units joined in such a manner that the arrangement of isoprenoid units is reversed at the centre of the molecule so that the two central methyl groups are in a 1,6-positional relationship and the remaining nonterminal methyl groups are in a 1,5-positional relationship. All carotenoids may be formally derived from the acyclic C40H56 structure, having a long central chain of conjugated double bonds, by (i) hydrogenation, (ii) dehydrogenation, (iii) cyclization, or (iv) oxidation. or any combination of these processes” (https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sbcs/iupac/carot/car1t7.html#p2, accessed on August 2021) (Figure 2) [2].
On the other hand, if the number of carbons are to be taken into account, the carotenoids, following the Carotenoid DataBase (http://carotenoiddb.jp, accessed on August 2021; https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sbcs/iupac/carot/car1t7.html#p2, accessed on August 2021) can be divided into: (i) C30 (37 carotenoids; e.g., 4,4′-diapolycopene), (ii) C40 (1121 carotenoids; e.g., lycopene), (iii) C45 (13 carotenoids; e.g., nonaflavuxanthin: intermediate in the biosynthesis of decaprenoxanthin (C50) by Corynebacterium glutamicum) and (iv) C50 (33 carotenoids; e.g., haloxanthin).

1.3. Biosynthetic Pathways of Carotenoids

Carotenoid biosynthetic pathways have been extensively studied over the past years. The starting molecule from which all carotenoids are synthesized is phytoene, a C40 colorless carotenoid. First, two molecules of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) are condensed by the enzyme phytoene synthase (CrtYB) to produce phytoene. GGPP molecules are in turn synthesized by the condensation of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) and three molecules of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), by means of the enzyme GGPP synthase (CrtE). Mainly in eukaryotes, these precursor molecules derive from the mevalonate pathway (MEV), whilst in prokaryotes and plants they derive from the methyl-erythritol phosphate pathway (MEP), also known as the non-mevalonate pathway [34].
Consequently, the enzyme phytoene desaturase (CrtI) catalyzes the transformation of phytoene into lycopene by introducing four double bonds. This enzyme can conduct further desaturation, synthesizing linear carotenoids, such as neurosporene or 3,4-didehydrolycopene.
In fungi (e.g., Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, Puccinia graminis [35][36]), the gene crtYB encodes a bifunctional enzyme that can perform as a phytoene synthase, as previously mentioned, and as a lycopene cyclase. The latter enzymatic activity is able to convert the acyclic ends of lycopene into β-rings, and generates carotenoid diversity, by producing β-carotene and γ-carotene. Subsequently, ketolation and hydroxylation reactions occur in order to synthesize other carotenoids (Figure 3). Depending on the microorganism, some carotenoids can be synthesized by enzymes encoded by different genes [37].
β-carotene hydroxylase is an enzyme encoded by the crtZ gene, which is able to hydroxylate β-carotene to form β-cryptoxanthin, and further add another hydroxy group to finally synthesize zeaxanthin.
Canthaxanthin is produced by the transformation of two methylene groups located in the β-ionone rings of β-carotene into keto groups. This reaction is carried out by the enzyme β-carotene ketolase (CrtW), which initially adds a keto group to β-carotene, forming echinenone, and afterwards synthesizes canthaxanthin by adding an extra keto group [38].
Furthermore, astaxanthin is formed by the addition of 4-keto groups and 3-hydroxy groups to the molecule of β-carotene, by means of the enzyme astaxanthin synthetase (CrtS), helped by a cytochrome P450 reductase (CrtR). These enzymes are naturally present in some microorganisms, such as X. dendrorhous [39]. Moreover, the biosynthesis of astaxanthin in other microorganisms has been described by means of the enzymes β-carotene hydroxylase and β-carotene ketolase, encoded by the genes crtZ and crtW, respectively [40].
The lutein biosynthetic pathway is mainly present in plants. Lutein can be synthesized from lycopene through the action of two lycopene cyclases (AtLCYe and AtLCYb) and two hydroxylases (AtCYP97A and AtCYP97C). The production of lutein has been observed in a strain of Synechocystis sp. transformed with the previously mentioned genes [34].
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Figure 3. Biosynthetic pathway of main commercial carotenoids. The pathway begins with the condensation of three molecules of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and one molecule of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) by means of the enzyme GGPP synthase (crtE), forming geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). In some fungi, such as X. dendrorhous, the gene crtYB encodes for a bifunctional enzyme that can perform as a phytoene synthase and as a lycopene cyclase, it combines two molecules of GGPP forming phytoene. Afterwards, phytoene is transformed into lycopene by means of the enzyme phytoene desaturase (crtI). The enzyme encoded by the gene crtYB, and with its lycopene cyclase activity, is able to convert the acyclic ends of lycopene to β-ring, and to generate carotenoid diversity, by producing β-carotene and γ-carotene. Further ketolation and hydroxylation reactions synthesize the rest of carotenoids. Lutein can be synthesized from lycopene through the action of two lycopene cyclases (LCYe and LCYb) and two hydroxylases (CYP97A and CYP97C). Red color indicates the enzyme name, whereas green color shows the gene names. This figure is based on Rodríguez-Sáiz and co-workers and Barreiro and co-workers [8][39].

2. Carotenoids Market

As mentioned earlier, chemically-synthesized carotenoids dominate the market. Natural carotenoids obtained from plants, animals, and microorganisms are still limited. They can be synthetically produced using low-cost chemicals without living organisms involved in the process, which satisfy the majority of the worldwide market demand (>73% of the global market in 2013). This is particularly true in developing regions, such as the Asia-Pacific market. However, naturally extracted carotenoids are becoming increasingly accepted by the consumer market, resulting in a higher demand of natural products. This holds especially true in the European Union and North America, markets which are limiting the use of harmful additives in food and feed. Besides, these natural carotenoids are preferred by the health market because of their lower potential for toxic effects, in contrast with synthetic ones, and due to their higher biological properties (e.g., healthier, more favorable cis/trans isomer mixtures). The health-promoting properties of those chemically obtained are lower, which results in a less valuable, less desirable product. The market intelligence and advisory firm, Mordor Intelligence (www.mordorintelligence.com, accessed on August 2021), prices synthetic carotenoids from $250 to $2000/kg, whereas natural carotenoids are sold between $350–$7500/kg, which highlights the higher relative value of natural versus synthetic carotenoids. As a result, the industry is being stimulated by means of green solutions and biotechnological applications of microbial and plant sources [3][41][42][43].
The worldwide market of carotenoids is around $1.5 billion. Ram and co-workers in 2020 [44], based on an Andrew McWilliams’ report for the BCC Research company entitled “The Global Market for Carotenoids” (www.bccresearch.com, accessed on August 2021), dated 2017 for this revenue. However, the market research report of the data provider company MarketsandMarkets (www.marketsandmarkets.com, accessed on August 2021), defined the year 2019 as the proper date. Besides, MarketsandMarkets predicts the carotenoid market to reach $2.0 billion by 2026, whereas BCC Research established this market value in 2020. Either way, it is clear that the global carotenoids market is on the brink of reaching a value of $2.0 billion, which is more than 2.5-fold higher than the $766 million estimated in 2011, and double that of the $919 million projected in 2015 [43]. Fortune Business Insights (www.fortunebusinessinsights.com, accessed on August 2021) estimates the global carotenoids market had a size of $1.44 billion in 2019, and anticipated reaching $1.84 billion by 2027. Even though estimation of the global market seems difficult, the commercial significance of carotenoids as part of the biological and chemical products is highly relevant due to their uses (food, feed, pharma, cosmetics) [3].
When a detailed analysis is done of the main carotenoids present in the market, the two that are the most common ones industrially produced are astaxanthin and β-carotene. Global market size of astaxanthin was estimated at $1.0 billion in 2019 by the Indo-American market research and consulting company Grand View Research (www.grandviewresearch.com, accessed on August 2021). However, a new research report of the Global Market Insights Inc (www.globenewswire.com, accessed on August 2021) predicted the astaxanthin market would have a revenue of $950 million by 2027. Besides, they predicted that the market from synthetic astaxanthin sources reached $200 million in 2020.
The β-carotene worldwide market was estimated by the MarketsandMarkets company (www.marketsandmarkets.com, accessed on August 2021) to be around $510 million by 2020, and may increase up to $520 million in 2025. However, Global Market Insights Inc (www.gminsights.com, accessed on August 2021) established the β-carotene market to be around $520 million in 2020, and projected $720 million in 2027. Regarding volume production, the worldwide market research and counselling firm Credence Research (www.credenceresearch.com, accessed on August 2021) reported 343.72 tons in 2014 and a projected 423.65 tons by 2022. The company Research and Markets (www.researchandmarkets.com, accessed on August 2021) presents similar figures, estimating a market demand of 371.56 tons in 2017, reaching 451.81 tons by 2025.

3. Relevance of Carotenoids

Other than the stunning visual colors of carotenoids, what is their natural role of these compounds in nature?
Carotenoids avoid oxidative damage (antioxidant function) of cells and cellular organelles by quenching the scavenging singlet oxygen molecules, peroxy radicals, and other toxic oxygen species. This ability as quenchers of oxidative species explains their role in non-photosynthetic organisms as photoprotectors. However, individual carotenoids additionally act through other mechanisms (e.g., β-carotene is pro-vitamin A, lutein/zeaxanthin are eye macular pigments) [45]. Secondly, photosynthesis is also a process where carotenoids are involved as working photoprotectors of the photosynthetic molecules, extending the range of light absorbed by photosynthetic systems. Besides this, they have a highly relevant ecological role attracting pollinators and seed dispersal agents [9].
From an industrial point of view, the oxidative protection capacity of the carotenoids has caught the attention of medical research studies associated with (i) chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, immune activation, neurological disorders, cognitive performance, diabetes, bone health, cancer); and (ii) degenerative pathogenesis (e.g., Alzheimer, Parkinson). Additionally, new lifestyle trends have increased the demand for nutritional supplements, such as carotenoids, which offer health benefits. In cosmetics, carotenoids block the naturally occurring effects of ROS (reactive oxygen species) on skin cells. Finally, intensive farming and aquaculture need feed supplementation that mimics the natural pigments present in different animals (e.g., salmon, trout, crustaceans) and tissues (e.g., egg yolks, skin, legs, fat, beaks, feathers) [3][13][43][45][46][47][48][49][50].
Today, amongst all existing carotenoids, six of them are considered industrially relevant: astaxanthin, β-carotene, canthaxanthin, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin [3].

3.1. Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin (3, 3′-dihydroxy-β, β-carotene-4, 4′-dione) is a red-orange pigment with a hydroxyl and a ketone group at both ends of the molecule, which makes it a superior antioxidant to most of the other carotenoids (Figure 3).
Astaxanthin is the main carotenoid used as a feed additive for salmonids and crustaceans grown in captivity to provide the pink color that is characteristic of their flesh [51]. Additionally, it is a valuable compound due to its powerful antioxidant properties, and it has also emerged as an interesting compound due to a variety of beneficial health effects. These include cardiovascular, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and immuno-stimulation, as well as cardiovascular, neuro-, ocular-, and skin-protective effects [52].
Roughly 95% of astaxanthin is produced by chemical synthesis. It can also be obtained from natural sources like plants or microorganisms. Chemical astaxanthin has a lower price in the market (around $1000/kg) compared to the natural one, and it is mostly used in aquaculture. Although synthetic astaxanthin is also approved for human use, there is increasing demand for astaxanthin from natural sources. Currently, large scale production of biological astaxanthin is carried out through cultivation of the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, and from the yeast X. dendrorhous (Phaffia rhodozyma) [8][53]. Astaxanthin can also be produced by fermentation of the marine bacteria Paracoccus carotinifaciens. Thus, Panaferd-AX, a powder obtained by drying cells of P. carotinifaciens, contains approximately 2% astaxanthin, and is approved in the European Union and in the United States for salmon and trout farming (https://www.eneos.co.jp/english/products/function/astaxanthin/, accessed on September 2021).
The major astaxanthin producers are DSM Nutritional Products (AstaSana™), BASF (Lucantin® Pink) and NHU (Essention Pink 10%) [3].
AstaSana™, commercialized by DSM Nutritional Products, is a synthetic astaxanthin (5%) dispersed in a matrix of modified food starch and glucose syrup and stabilized with antioxidants. It is bio-equivalent to astaxanthin found in nature. It is a violet, fine granular powder, dispersible in cold water, used as a dietary supplement for human use. (https://www.dsm.com/human-nutrition/en/products/carotenoids/astasana.html, accessed on September 2021). DSM also commercializes astaxanthin as a feeding additive for salmonid pigmentation (Carophyl Pink®)
Lucantin® Pink, commercialized by BASF, is sold for improving pigmentation in aquaculture. It is distributed in different formats: dark-violet/red microcapsules of powder, with 10–20% astaxanthin content, in a matrix of gelatins, sucrose, syrup, corn, lactose and/or soy, and stabilized with different compounds (https://nutrition.basf.com/global/en/animal-nutrition/products/lucantin-pink.html, accessed on September 2021).
Essention Pink 10% is sold for animal feed as violet-brown to violet-red microcapsules formulated with corn-starch, sucrose, gelatin, glycerin, antioxidants (α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid), and anti-caking agents (silicic acid) (https://www.nhu-eu.com/products/feed.html, accessed on September 2021).

3.2. β-Carotene

β-Carotene (β,β-carotene) is a red to orange pigment that consists of 40 carbon atoms in a core structure of conjugated double bonds substituted with two β-ionone rings (Figure 3). It is found naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables such as carrots (65–210 µg/g fresh weight basis), apricots (25–170 µg/g fresh weight basis), coriander leaves (586 µg/g dry weight basis), or pumpkin (10–172 µg/g fresh weight basis) [54][55].
Β-Carotene is commercially used as a colorant in the food, feed, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. It is also used as a pro-vitamin A supplement to achieve the recommended β-carotene dietary intake [56]. It has an important role in human health, as a precursor of vitamin A, along with α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin. This vitamin is important for many functions of the human body. It is particularly significant for vision, normal growth and development, and immune function. During pregnancy, vitamin A plays an essential role in healthy embryonic development. In addition, other properties have been attributed to β-carotene, such as antioxidant activity, protection against UV-induced erythema and photosensitivity, or some types of diabetes prevention [56][57][58]. In animals, β-carotene has been described as improving reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle [59][60].
This pigment is mostly produced by chemical synthesis and it is offered in a wide range of formats for human healthcare (Lucarotin®, BASF; Quali®-Carotene, DSM Nutritional Products) and as a feed supplement (ROVIMIX® β-carotene, DSM Nutritional Products). It can also be obtained by extraction from plants or algae such as Dunaliella salina (Betatene®, BASF), or by fermentation of the fungus Blakeslea trispora (Lucarotin® B, BASF; CaroCare®, DSM Nutritional Products) for human use.

3.3. Canthaxanthin

Canthaxanthin (β,β-Carotene-4,4′-dione) is an orange-red to red xanthophyll. This molecule has nine conjugated double bonds, terminated by two oxo substituents at positions 4 and 4′ of the β-ionone backbone (Figure 3).
It is widely distributed in nature and commercialized in some regions for its coloring properties. Initially, it was isolated from an edible chanterelle mushroom (Cantharellus cinnabarinus) [61], and subsequently has been identified in a vast variety of species. It is present in fungi such as Aspergillus carbonarius (20.3% DW), microalgae, Botryococcus braunii (46% DW), and bacteria as Dietzia sp. (90–92% of total carotenoids) [41][62][63][64][65]. Canthaxanthin can be found in animals such as red-feathered birds (e.g., flamingos), fish flesh (e.g., carps), and egg yolk [37].
Potential health benefits of canthaxanthin include antioxidant properties, free radical scavenging, and gene regulatory properties. However, the mechanisms by which canthaxanthin may mediate potential health benefits are not totally understood, and further investigation shall be carried out. However, there is increasing experimental evidence suggesting that canthaxanthin may affect gap junction communication and immune function [62]. In contrast, it has been described that a high intake of canthaxanthin could cause ocular lesions such as macula crystallization and retinopathy. This effect has been associated with intake of unsafe tanning pills (FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Products/ucm134217.htm, accessed on September 2021) [66].
Canthaxanthin is widely used in aquaculture and poultry as a feed colorant. In aquaculture, it is used for coloring rainbow trout and salmon flesh, administered frequently with astaxanthin. In poultry industry, it is used in the laying hen’s diet for coloring egg yolks in combination with other carotenoids to obtain an optimal pigmentation, and in chicken to color the skin (Lucatin® Red, BASF; Carophyll® Red, DSM Nutritional Products). It is also used to feed ornamental birds and fishes to provide a brighter and healthier color to the feathers and the flesh.
In the food industry, canthaxanthin is approved as an additive in the EU (E161g) for coloring the “saucisse de Strasbourg”, as well as coloring matter in feeding stuffs. In contrast to other carotenoids, canthaxanthin is not used as a nutraceutical [62][67].
Commercial canthaxanthin can be found in diluted or stabilized forms in order to prevent oxidation of the compound, including suspensions or solutions in edible fats or oils, emulsions, or water-dispersible powders [62][67]. Nowadays, canthaxanthin is produced by chemical synthesis. Alternative ways of manufacturing this pigment are being explored in order to find a cost-efficient and more environmentally friendly process that meets market requirements. These new ways include natural sources such as plants, algae or bacteria, and also synthetic biology for its production in heterologous systems (Escherichia coli, Nostoc sp., Mucor circinelloides) [61].

3.4. Lutein

Lutein [(3R,3′R,6′R)-β,ε-Carotene-3,3′-diol] is a yellowish xanthophyll (Figure 3). It is the main carotenoid found in human serum, human milk, and in a variety of dietary fruits and vegetables such as mango (31.7 µg/g fresh weight basis), papaya (237 µg/g fresh weight basis), watermelon (172 µg/g dry weight basis), spinach (775.8 µg/g dry weight basis), kale (65 µg/g fresh weight basis), chicory (59.1 µg/g fresh weight basis) or broccoli (28 µg/g fresh weight basis) [54]. In nature, lutein is most abundant in petals of yellow marigold (Tagetes erecta L.). This plant is the lutein source at industrial scales.
Lutein is best known for its role in visual health. Together with zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin, these are the only carotenoids found in both the macula and lens of human eye. Several studies suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin are important for delaying and reducing age-related macular degeneration, and reduce the risk of cataracts. These carotenoids absorb light from the visible spectra, protecting the retina and the lens from potential damage caused by light exposure. Besides, these macular carotenoids protect the eye from oxidative stress and free radicals due to their antioxidant properties [68][69][70]. Beneficial properties of lutein are not restricted to visual health; it is also a potent antioxidant that protects skin from photo-oxidative damage, since it filters near-UV high-energy blue light [71][72]. It has also been described for having additional benefits for human health such as preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or improving cognitive function [58][73][74], although some authors claim that additional studies should be carried out in order to generate enough evidence before deciding whether lutein should be clinically used or not [48].
In human nutrition, lutein is commercialized as a colorant, but it is mainly used due to its antioxidant properties and to reduce risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. The company Kemin Industries commercializes it under the trademark of FloraGLO®. The same product, FloraGLO®, is sold by DSM Nutritional Products in a variety of formats for optimized bioavailability, stability and low extrusion loses: as a powder or as a fluid, in different concentrations, alone or mixed with zeaxanthin. The company BASF commercializes lutein under the trademark Xangold® Lutein.
Lutein is also used in poultry feed mainly to color eggs and to enhance chickens’ skin with a visual vigorous color. It also brings health benefits to chickens supplemented with this carotenoid. It is generally administered together with other orange-red xanthophylls to obtain an intense yellow hue, generally canthaxanthin [75]. Nowadays, lutein’s presence in the egg yolk industry is shared with zeaxanthin and β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid (apo-ester). The latter provides a similar yellow hue to egg yolks as lutein and zeaxanthin, but has a higher deposition rate than both of them, making it a more efficient pigment. Thus, it is the preferred choice for providing yellow pigmentation to yolks [76] (https://www.dsm.com/anh/en_US/feedtalks/feedtalks/eggyolk-pigmentation-guidelines.html, accessed on September 2021).
Lutein is industrially produced by extraction from yellow marigolds [71][76]. This flower extract composition consists mainly of all-trans and cis isomers of lutein and esters of lutein (88%), and all-trans and cis isomers of zeaxanthin (5%), although this proportion may vary depending on the source extracted [77].
Some of the key manufacturers of lutein are DSM Nutritional Products, Kemin Industries, Allied Biotech Corporation, BASF and Chr. Hansen (https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/lutein-market, accessed on September 2021).

3.5. Lycopene

Lycopene (ψ, ψ-Carotene) is an open-polyene chain which lacks the β-ionone ring structures found in β-carotene (Figure 3). It is a red carotenoid synthesized naturally by some plants and microorganisms mostly in the isomer all-trans. The best known dietary intake of lycopene in humans is from tomatoes, but it can also be found at equivalent levels in other fruits such as persimmon, pink guava, or watermelon [55].
Lycopene is widely used as a pigment in the food industry. It is used, for example, in fruit juices and soft drinks, sport drinks, cereals, bread, dairy products, dietary products, and dietary supplements [78]. In addition, there is growing interest in lycopene due to its health promoting properties, such as antioxidant activity that protects DNA, lipids, and proteins from oxidative damage, anti-cancer activity, or cardioprotective activity. Several mechanisms by which lycopene acts against cancer have been described: (i) growth reduction of the cancer cell lines, including those causing prostate cancer; (ii) apoptosis of cancerous cells; (iii) induction of enzymes that protect against carcinogens; (iv) modulation of DNA transcription; (v) reduction of intracellular levels of cholesterol (which has been reported to be important for activation of oncogenes); and (vi) decreasing cytokine levels that promote tumors [79][80].
Cardioprotective effects of lycopene are associated with its antioxidant properties which defends endothelial cells from oxidative damage, its anti-inflammatory activity which could be useful in vascular inflammatory disorders, or its ability to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides levels, among others [81][82]. However, an evaluation conducted in 2011 by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that there was no cause–effect relationship between consumption of lycopene and putative health benefits such as protection of DNA, proteins, and lipids from oxidative damage, protection of skin from UV-induced damage, contribution to normal cardiac function or maintenance of normal vision [83]. Although there is considerable evidence that lycopene has a beneficial effect on human health, the exact molecular mechanisms of action need to be deciphered.
Commercial lycopene is produced mainly by extraction from natural sources, such as tomato, although it can also be produced by chemical synthesis or by fermentation of the fungus B. trispora [78]. Major players in lycopene market are BASF, DSM Nutritional Products, Lycored, and twenty more companies (https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4425276/lycopene-market-forecast-2020-2025, accessed on September 2021).
For example, Lycored offers natural lycopene obtained from tomato plants (LycoBeads) in different forms: microencapsulated alginate beadlets, gelatin-based, microencapsulated powder, and microencapsulated tablet grade and water dispersible beadlets. It is sold as a dietary supplement. DSM nutritional Products commercializes synthetic crystalline (all-trans) lycopene for human use (Redivivo®). It is presented in spray granulated powder, or as a fluid suspension for use as a dietary supplement in the food and drink industries. Similarly, the carotenoid manufacturer BASF offers a synthetic lycopene for human use under the trademark of Lycovit®, offering both a more cost-effective alternative to natural lycopene extracted from tomatoes, and an alternative for artificial azo dyes for applications in beverages, foods, and dietary supplements.

3.6. Zeaxanthin

Zeaxanthin ((3R,3′R)-β, β-Carotene-3,3′-diol) is an isomer of lutein: the two alcohol groups of the molecule differ from each other by the shift of a single double bond (Figure 3). It is naturally found in fruits and vegetables such as papaya (14.1 µg/g fresh weight basis), corn (6 µg/g fresh weight basis), or spinach (15.1 µg/g dry weight basis) [54].
Zeaxanthin, together with lutein and meso-zeaxanthin, have been described as having a critical role in visual health. A higher dietary intake of these xanthophylls has been associated with reducing the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration [71][84]. These carotenoids absorb light from the visible spectra, protecting the retina and the lens from potential damage caused by light exposure. Besides, these macular carotenoids protect the eye from oxidative stress and free radicals due to their antioxidant properties [68][69][70].
Zeaxanthin is commercially used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries as pure formulation or in combination with other carotenoids for its coloring properties, and it is also used as a supplement for its putative beneficial health effects (OPTISHARP®, DSM Nutritional Products) [51][84].
In addition to its use as a human food supplement, zeaxanthin, together with lutein and β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid (apo-ester), is used in poultry feed, mainly to provide a yellow color to egg yolk, and a visually healthy color to the skin of chickens. It is generally administered together with other orange-red xanthophylls to obtain an intense yellow hue, generally canthaxanthin. Nowadays, the preferred carotenoid for providing a yellow hue to yolk is the apo-ester, due to the fact that it has a higher deposition rate than lutein and zeaxanthin, thus making it a more efficient pigment [76] (https://www.dsm.com/anh/en_US/feedtalks/feedtalks/eggyolk-pigmentation-guidelines.html, accessed on September 2021).
Zeaxanthin is produced by chemical synthesis, extracted from plants, or produced by microorganisms [84]. Natural zeaxanthin is mainly obtained from marigold flowers. Hence, Kemin commercializes it under the trademark ZeaONE®, and DSM Nutritional Products distributes ZeaONE® under the trademark of OPTISHARP Natural. Zeaxanthin can be sold as a powder or as an oily fluid suspension at different concentrations, pure or in combination with lutein.

4. Biotechnological Production of Carotenoids

At present, the growing market of carotenoids is mainly met through chemical synthesis, although this has several disadvantages. First, higher production costs make chemical processes unprofitable in some cases, such as lutein or lycopene. Additionally, the chemical synthesis of carotenoids requires a very high level of control and can generate by-products that have undesirable side effects, and could cause food safety problems. Finally, these processes will become unsustainable in the near future, since they use non-renewable resources (generally from petrochemical origins, as in the case of canthaxanthin). Therefore, in light of the global economic value of carotenoids and the growing awareness of consumers, the production of carotenoids from natural or renewable sources has become an area of intense research [85].
The carotenoid biosynthetic pathway is especially amenable to manipulation by recombinant DNA techniques, since all carotenoids share two isoprene isomers as common precursors: isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) [86][87]. Thus, the genetic modification of well-known model microorganisms has become an alternative that is growing in interest, and numerous studies are focused on the heterologous expression of important carotenoid biosynthetic genes [88][89][90][91]. As a result, the production of carotenoids from natural sources is based on the use of: (i) bacteria such as E. coli, Dietzia natronolimnaea, P. carotinifaciens or Pseudomonas putida; (ii) yeasts like X. dendrorhous, Yarrowia lipolytica, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris; (iii) filamentous fungi such as B. trispora; and (iv) algae such as Chlorella zofingiensis, D. salina, and Coelastrella striolata.

4.1. Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid which can be found in numerous natural sources from algae and yeasts, to animals such as salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, and crayfish [92]. However, like most carotenoids, commercial astaxanthin is mainly produced by chemical synthesis (ca. 95%), which is an expensive and unsustainable process, and natural sources such as fermentative production or crustacean byproducts are gaining importance [3][93]. Four natural sources are a realistic alternative to synthetic astaxanthin: (i) bacteria such as P. carotinifaciens or modified E. coli [91]; (ii) yeasts like X. dendrorhous (P. rhodozyma) or modified S. cerevisiae [94][95]; (iii) fungus such as Y. lipolytica [96]; and (iv) algae like H. pluvialis, C. zofingiensis or C. striolata [97][98][99].
Among natural sources, the well-known green microalgae H. pluvialis is the most used to date. H. pluvialis can accumulate up to 5% DW (dry weight) of astaxanthin and, currently, is considered as the best natural source of this carotenoid. Nevertheless, it is only responsible for about 1% of the commercialized astaxanthin, despite synthetic astaxanthin having 20 times less antioxidant capacity than its natural counterpart. Thus, several important commercial companies, such as Cyanotech Corporation, Mera Pharmaceuticals Inc., AIgatechnologies or Fuji Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. are involved in large scale production of astaxanthin from H. pluvialis [92][100].
Nonetheless, natural astaxanthin is not able to compete with the synthetic alternative at lower value-added markets currently, mainly due to the production costs (in the best case scenario, 1536€/kg vs. 880€/kg, respectively) [101]. However, due to the increasing demand for natural astaxanthin and its high price, there is constant growth of astaxanthin production from natural sources over the last few years. Thus, the improvement of astaxanthin titer by microbial fermentation is required to be competitive against its synthetic manufacturing [101][102]. However, astaxanthin production by natural microalgae requires large open areas and long production times. This has led to numerous studies in recent years about improvement of the culture conditions, or even the genetic modifications of bacteria and yeasts for the production of astaxanthin, such as E. coli and S. cerevisiae.
A promising natural source of astaxanthin at the industrial scale is the heterobasidiomycetous yeast X. dendrorhous, due to its ability to accumulate large amounts of this carotenoid pigment, with productivities of 350 mg/L astaxanthin in 800 L fermenters [94]. Diverse studies on astaxanthin production yields by optimization of fermentation conditions revealed that its production is mainly influenced by the pH, carbon source, nitrogen concentration and Cu2+, along with the addition of micronutrients like vitamins, trace elements, or fungal elicitors [103]. Other studies have focused on increasing astaxanthin production through genetic engineering, and the oleaginous yeast Y. lipolytica is a clear example. The expression of the H. pluvialis β-ketolase and β-hydroxylase genes in Y. lipolytica resulted in 285 mg/L astaxanthin production in 1 L bioreactors [96].
Far and away, the most promising strain is the well-known biotechnological chassis E. coli. This bacterium, which cannot naturally synthesize carotenoids, was genetically engineered by the introduction of carotenogenic genes. Therefore, recent studies show that the heterologous expression of β-carotene ketolase (CrtW) from Brevundimonas sp. and β-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ) from Pantoea agglomerans, along with the genetic modification of the groES and groEL chaperones, allows a production of 1.18 g/L of astaxanthin after 60 h of fermentation in shake flasks (Table 1) [91].

4.2. β-Carotene

Although the oldest way to obtain carotenoids is extraction by physicochemical processes from plant material (the richest sources of β-carotene are dehydrated peppers, carrots and grape leaves), chemical synthesis from β-ionone has been the primary source of β-carotene production since it was developed in 1950 by Milas [104]. Nevertheless, among all the known methods of β-carotene production, again, microbial biosynthesis is gaining major interest. Natural β-carotene can be obtained from microalgae (D. salina), vegetables (like carrots or pumpkins), or by fermentation of microorganisms (mainly fungus as B. trispora and yeasts such as X. dendrorhous or Y. lipolytica) [28][105][106].
Currently, as with astaxanthin, the main natural source of β-carotene are algae, whose production account for about 35% of total revenue. Much attention is drawn to the green microalgae D. salina, which is the main commercial source of microbial origin [28][107]. However, other well-known microalgae, such as C. zofingiensis, are gaining interest, and recent studies have reported that a mutant of the algae C. zofingiensis is able to accumulate high amounts of β-carotene (34.6 mg/L) when it is induced by glucose with high light irradiation [108].
Other of the main sources of production of β-carotene is the fungus B. trispora. β-carotene production by B. trispora was reported in 1963, but this achievement was abandoned because the profitability of the process was not competitive with chemical biosynthesis. However, after some decades, microbial synthesis of carotenoids has attracted researcher’s attention, and great efforts have been dedicated to optimizing culture and growth conditions aimed to improve β-carotene biosynthesis from B. trispora, reaching a production of 78.0 mg/g DCW at lab scales in 2012 [109][110]. B. trispora produces β-carotene through a complex process, where mycelia of the (+) and (−) sexual mating types of this fungi need to be co-cultivated [111][112].
Conversely, because yeasts are unicellular organisms with a relatively high growth rate in low-cost fermentation media, they have an advantage over algae and fungi [87]. Thus, it has been reported that there is an even more promising source of natural β-carotene: the yeast Y. lipolytica. Despite it being best known for the industrial production of astaxanthin, it was reported that engineered Y. lipolytica strains can produce 797.1 mg/L β-carotene as an astaxanthin intermediary. Thus, the expression of phytoene desaturase (crtI) and lycopene cyclase (crtYB) obtained from X. dendrorhous, along with the up-regulation of geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase (GGS1/crtE) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG1) and the down-regulation of the competing enzyme squalene synthase (SQS1), could increase the β-carotene biosynthesis in Y. lipolytica (Table 1) [93].

4.3. Canthaxanthin

Canthaxanthin was initially extracted from an edible mushroom (C. cinnabarinus) in 1950 [61], and, since then, it has been detected in several organisms as plants, trout, birds (flamingo), crayfish, fungi (A. carbonarius), algae (C. striolata, Chlorella vulgaris, C. zofingiensis, and Dictyococcus cinnabarinus), and bacteria (Bradyrhizobium sp., Dietzia sp., Gordonia jacobaea, Micrococcus roseus, Brevibacterium sp., and Rhodococcus maris) [37][113]. However, the development of synthetic production processes left behind natural sources of canthaxanthin for industrial production. Nowadays, some microbial sources, especially green microalgae such as H. pluvialis and Chlorococcum sp., have gained added significance.
The search continues for microbial sources of canthaxanthin and the optimum conditions for its production. Recently, it has been reported that the overexpression of the β-carotene ketolase gene (crtW) from Nostoc flagelliform increases canthaxanthin biosynthesis. Similar results have been observed after the heterologous expression of the crtW gene from Anabena variabilis in E. coli strains or from marine bacterium Paracoccus sp. In M. circinelloides [37].
Since canthaxanthin is the precursor of other carotenoids, such as astaxanthin, just a few papers have reported canthaxanthin production as the main goal (Table 1).

4.4. Lutein

The xanthophyll lutein generally appears in nature, along with its stereoisomer zeaxanthin, and it occurs in abundance in green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard, and spinach. Other important natural sources of lutein and zeaxanthin are egg yolk, chicken (broilers), and cheese [71][114].
Lutein is one of the unique carotenoids that is obtained mainly from natural sources, since its commercial production through chemical synthesis has not been viable due to its poor overall yield [115]. Currently, the flower petals of yellow Marigold (T. erecta L.) is the main source in the industrial extraction of lutein. However, marigold presents several drawbacks: (i) the flowers must be periodically harvested, and the petals have to be separated prior to extraction; (ii) lutein content in marigold petals is variable; and (iii) slow growth and low yield of biomass production [114]. Thus, there is a huge opportunity for natural lutein production from microalgae, which could become the best alternative source. Lutein biosynthesis has been reported within members of Chlorophyta (such as Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella minutissima, D. salina, H. pluvialis, and C. vulgaris), Chlorarachniophyta, Cryptophyta, Euglenophyta, and Rhodophyta algal species [113][115]. Two main factors make microalga a good lutein source: (i) its lutein content; and (ii) its biomass productivity. Nowadays, only Chlorella sorokiniana, Murielopsis sp., and Scenedesmus almeriensis are considered for mass production in largescale systems [114][116].
One of the greatest promises in the future production of lutein is the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is used as host for the heterologous expression of some carotenoid biosynthesis genes. Thus, the expression of the phytoene synthase gene (psy) from D. salina results in the production of 2.6-fold greater amounts of lutein compared to the wild type strain. Similar results were reported due to the overexpression of the phytoene desaturase (pds) [117] or the expression of the phytoene-β-carotene synthase gene (pbs) from the red yeast X. dendrorhous, increasing, in this case, the lutein production by 60% under low light conditions [115][118].
Another strategy to achieve better yields in lutein production in microalgae is the fine-tuning of culture conditions (mainly light intensity, CO2 content, color and time of exposure, temperature, and nitrogen source) of the well-known producer organisms [119][120]. Furthermore, 11-fold higher lutein productivity (4.96 mg L−1 d−1) has been reported in the green microalgae S. obliquus [121] and 290 mg lutein m−2 d−1 in a 4000 L photobioreactor for S. almeriensis [122]. Similarly, growth and lutein production processes have been optimized for the algae Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlorella protothecoides, although all these assays are still being carried out at the bench or pilot scales (Table 1) [115].
Finally, lutein producing bacteria has yet been found in nature, however the genetic modification of the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC to express β-and ε-cyclase, and β-and ε-hydroxylase from Arabidopsis, results in a lutein producing strain [34].

4.5. Lycopene

Lycopene is naturally present in fruits and vegetables such as papayas, red peppers and, especially, tomatoes (about 80% of their total carotenoid content) [86][123], which is one of the main sources of lycopene nowadays [124]. However, increasing demand for lycopene has led to a search for new sources. Thus, although lycopene can be synthesized chemically, its production process is extremely complex and costly, highlighting microbial synthesis as a promising method in recent years [86].
As in most cases, the model microorganism E. coli was one of the first developed chassis for lycopene production, reaching titers of 2.7 g/L. Nevertheless, the release of some endotoxins during the fermentation process has led other microorganisms, especially well-known industrial yeasts such as S. cerevisiae, P. pastoris or Y. lipolytica, to take the lead in the development of new lycopene production processes. The production of lycopene by the fungus B. trispora was previously reported, but numerous studies have focused on the use of yeast because B. trispora requires the addition of cyclase inhibitors such as imidazole or pyridine derivatives, in order to avoid formation of β-carotene. Besides, yeasts usually possess endogenous carotenoid metabolic pathways, so they can easily be genetically modified to drive metabolic flux toward lycopene synthesis from the common precursors isopentyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethyl diphosphate (DMAPP).
Some species are able to produce natural lycopene, such as X. denrorhous (P. rhodozyma). However, due to the lack of genetic manipulation tools, the product concentration by using this natural yeast is not usually high, and they are not reported as industrial producers. Thus, they just provide gene elements occurring in lycopene heterologous synthesis pathways [86]. Three key crt genes are necessary for a heterologous lycopene pathway expression: (i) crtE, GGPP synthase, catalyzes the first step of downstream lycopene biosynthesis; (ii) crtB, phytoene synthase, leads to the formation of the colorless phytoene; and (iii) crtI, phytoene desaturase, catalyzes the conversion of phytoene to lycopene. Thus, the heterologous expression of two copies of crtE from Pantoea ananatis, two copies of crtI from B. trispora, and one copy of crtB from P. agglomerans in S. cerevisiae, along with the knocking out of endogenous bypass genes, culminates in the production of 3.28 g/L lycopene in 7-L fermenters [125] (Table 1).
Finally, through a combination of the modification of the native isopentenol utilization pathway (IUP) in the oleaginous yeast Y. lipolytica, with further genetic and fermentation optimizations, a final lycopene titer of 4.2 g/L was achieved in 3-L bioreactors [126] (Table 1).

4.6. Zeaxanthin

To date, the xanthophyll zeaxanthin has been mainly produced by extraction from natural sources like green vegetables and yellow corn, although it can also be found in oranges, tangerines, spinach, lettuce, squash, and chicken egg yolk. Zeaxanthin could be chemically synthesized, but the process is complex and expensive. Therefore, natural alternatives lead the sources of industrial production, even when the processes net low extraction rates and produce large amounts of waste. As a result, the idea of using new biological technology has attracted more and more attention in the last years, although, so far, all these studies continue on a bench scale. Compared with other carotenoids, zeaxanthin production rates are extremely low and the use of metabolically engineered microorganisms as a source is sought.
Many bacteria are able to naturally accumulate zeaxanthin; the best-known among them are those of the genera Mesoflavibacter and Muricauda. For example, it has been reported that Muricauda lutaonensis is able to produce 3.12 mg L−1 of zeaxanthin when cultured in 2-L biorreactors [127], and Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens showed a production yield of 910 µg/g DCW at the lab scale (Table 1) [128].
To date, there are two realistic industrial sources of zeaxanthin: bacteria and algae. By far the most promising algae is C. zofingiensis, which after random mutagenesis with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), was able to accumulate 36.79 mg/L zeaxanthin when induced by glucose and growing with nitrogen deficiency and high light irradiation; an especially remarkable fact since no algae have been found to have profitable potential for zeaxanthin production [108]. On the other hand, gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9 was conducted in C. reinhardtii aimed to eliminate the synthesis of lutein and enhance the production of high purity zeaxanthin, resulting in a mutant able to produce 6.84 mg/L zeaxanthin [129].
Finally, among the most promising bacteria it is worth highlighting the model host E. coli. Thus, it has been reported that the heterologous expression of the ctrY and ctrZ genes from P. ananatis resulted in the production of 11.95 mg/g DCW of zeaxanthin [89], levels much higher than those discussed initially. Unfortunately, these levels do not reach those shown by the well-known P. putida, which produces 51.3 mg/L of zeaxanthin after expression of the crt genes from P. ananatis and optimization of the fermentation parameters (Table 1) [130].
Table 1. Summary of carotenoids production from different microbial sources based on data provided by authors.
CarotenoidStrainTiter/YieldReference
AstaxanthinXanthophyllomyces dendrorhous

(Phaffia rhodozyma)		350.0 mg/L (4.1 mg/g DCW)[94]
Yarrowia lipolytica285.0 mg/L (6 mg/g DCW)[96]
Saccharomyces cerevisiae47.0 mg/L (8 mg/g DCW)[95]
Haematococcus pluvialis29.3 mg/g DCW[97]
Chlorella zofingiensis3.9 mg/g DCW[98]
Coelastrella striolata1.5 mg/g DCW[99]
Escherichia coli6.17 mg/g DCW[91]
β-caroteneYarrowia lipolytica90 mg/g DCW[131]
Blakeslea trispora78.0 mg/g DCW[110]
Sporobolomyces roseus2.6 mg/g DCW[132]
Rhodotorula glutinis1.3 mg/g DCW[132]
Saccharomyces cerevisiae5.9 mg/g DCW[133]
Dunaliella salina25.2 mg/g DCW[134]
Coelastrella striolata7.0 mg/g DCW[99]
Chlorella zofingiensis7.2 mg/g DCW[108]
CanthaxanthinAspergillus carbonarius206.0 mg/g DCW[63]
Chlorella zofingiensis0.26 mg/g DCW[135]
Dietzia natronolimnaea0.9 mg/g DCW[136]
Rhodococcus maris13.4 µg/g DCW[137]
Coelastrella striolata47.5 mg/g DCW[99]
Escherichia coli10.6 mg/g DCW[90]
LuteinScenedesmus bijugus2.9 mg/g DCW[138]
Chlorella sorokiniana5.9 mg/g DCW
Chlorella sp.2.3 mg/g DCW
Coelastrella sp.6.5 mg/g DCW
Vischeria stellata1.5 mg/g DCW
Chlorella zofingiensis13.8 mg/g DCW[108]
LycopeneBlakeslea trispora24.0 mg/g DCW[139]
Rhodotorula glutinis340.0 mg/L[140]
Yarrowia lipolytica21.1 mg/g DCW[141]
Dietzia natronolimnaea0.9 mg/g DCW[142]
Dunaliella salina0.7 mg/L[143]
Saccharomyces cerevisiae3.3 g/L[125]
Pichia pastoris9.3 mg/g DCW[144]
ZeaxanthinMucor circinelloides10.0 µg/g DCW[145]
Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens0.9 mg/g DCW[146]
Muricauda lutaonensis2.7 mg/g DCW[127]
Siansivirga zeaxanthinifaciens6.5 mg/g DCW[147]
Sphingomonas natatoria4.9 mg/g DCW[148]
Escherichia coli12.0 mg/g DCW[89]
Algibacter sp.11.4 mg/g DCW[149]
Paracoccus zeaxanthinifaciens1.3 mg/g DCW[150]
Pseudomonas putida7.0 mg/g DCW[130]
Chlorella zofingiensis7.0 mg/g DCW[108]
Arthorbacter gardavensis1.5 mg/g DCW[151]
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii7.3 mg/g DCW[129]

5. Future Outlook

Currently, the entirety of the carotenoids market is dominated by chemical synthesis, but natural carotenoids obtained from plants, animals, and microorganisms, due to their higher biological and health properties, are taking the attention of those markets that demand natural products. The microbiological production of these industrially-relevant compounds appears to be a suitable alternative, which still needs future development on strain selection, omics methodology applications as data sources for synthetic biology developments, and culture condition improvements. However, consumer priorities are driving the transition from chemical to biological production, where fungi, bacteria, and algae are the main players.
The nutritional (food and feed), health, and cosmetics applications of these colored compounds have profitable benefits today, which will be increased due to food and beverage supplementation, intensive aquiculture as substitute for fishery depletion, and health properties.
Carotenoid discovery, research and development has a long story, which is as highly active and industrially attractive now more than ever.

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