Among the strategies for metabolic pathway modification include: (1) Reduce the number of additional metabolic pathways that do not lead to a lycopene, using the shRNA-modified vector of the enzymes, (2) add the enzyme-encoding genes in the vector to increase the production of lycopene, (3) reconstruct the metabolic path using other enzyme analogs with fewer metabolic routes and more optimal.

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Part III: Design strategies for converting lycopene to beta-carotene

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The enzyme that converts the red pigment lycopene into the beta carotene of the orange pigment is lycopene-beta-cyclase (CrtY).

Beta-carotene is one of a group of red, orange, and yellow pigments called carotenoids. Beta-carotene and other carotenoids provide approximately 50% of the vitamin A needed in the American diet. Beta-carotene can be found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It can also be made in a laboratory.

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