Lycopene Biosynthesis in Rhodopseudomonas palustris

This research aims to study the biosynthesis of lycopene in Rhodopseudomonas palustris and explore the possibility for Rhodopseudomonas palustris to be a novel source of natural lycopene.The metabolic products of R.palustris extracted with tetrahydrofuran(THF) were analyzed by HPLC and HPLC-MS.The results showed that the main carotenoids in R.palustris were rhodopin,3,4-dehydrorhodopin and lycopene.R.palustris was cultivated in SMN supplemented with carbon source.Massive lycopene accumulation was observed during a period after the beginning of the logarithmic phase,followed by a decline at the stable phase.The optimal carbon source,nitrogen source and pH were determined.Under the optimal cultivation conditions,the yield of lycopene reached a maximum level of 0.2456 μ g/mL,and the relative yield was 0.1682 μ g/g.