The present invention relates, in general, to a biotechnological method for production of (3S,3′S) astaxanthin. In particular, the present invention relates to a peptide having a &bgr;-C-4-oxygenase activity; a DNA segment coding for this peptide; an RNA segments coding for this peptide; a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector and the DNA segment; a host cell or organism containing the above described recombinant DNA molecule or DNA segment; and to a method of biotechnologically producing (3S,3′S) astaxanthin or a food additive containing (3S,3′S) astaxanthin, using the host.
                            本发明总体上涉及一种生产(3S,3′S)
虾青素的
生物技术方法。具体而言,本发明涉及一种具有&bgr;-C-4-氧化酶活性的肽;编码该肽的DNA片段;编码该肽的RNA片段;包含载体和DNA片段的
重组DNA分子;含有上述
重组DNA分子或DNA片段的宿主细胞或
生物体;以及利用该宿主以
生物技术生产(3S,3′S)
虾青素或含有(3S,3′S)
虾青素的
食品添加剂的方法。