| Comments |
The enzyme, characterized from the bacterium Dietzia sp. CQ4 and the halophilic archaea Halobacterium salinarum and Haloarcula japonica, is bifunctional. It catalyses the elongation of the C40 carotenoid all-trans-lycopene by attaching an isoprene unit at C-2 as well as the hydroxylation of the previous end of the molecule. The enzyme acts at both ends of the substrate, and combined with the action of EC 1.3.99.37, 1-hydroxy-2-isopentenylcarotenoid 3,4-desaturase, it forms the C50 carotenoid dihydrobisanhydrobacterioruberin. cf. EC 2.5.1.149, lycopene elongase/hydratase (flavuxanthin-forming). |
