Astaxanthin is a fat-soluble and water-soluble pigment, a red carotenoid widely found in oysters, rhodococcus, and salmon. It is a powerful natural antioxidant that can effectively eliminate free radicals in the body, combat aging, clear vascular waste, reduce fatigue, regulate immunity, and exhibit a variety of biological activities. It is widely used in medicine, food, and cosmetics. Although natural astaxanthin is present in a variety of organisms, its content is very low, the extraction process is complex, the yield is small, and the price is expensive. With the identification of key genes for astaxanthin synthesis, it is possible to construct the astaxanthin biosynthesis pathway in microorganisms, synthesize the precursor substances of astaxanthin, or directly synthesize astaxanthin. Microbial synthesis of astaxanthin is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, involves small microbial size, rapid growth, strong vitality, and has garnered significant attention in the industrial production of astaxanthin. This paper reviews the recent advancements in the synthesis of astaxanthin by algae, fungi, and bacteria, as well as the efforts to increase its production by microorganisms.

Huan Niu. Advances in Astaxanthin Biosynthesis. Academic Journal of Agriculture & Life Sciences (2024) Vol. 5 Issue 1: 14-21. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJALS.2024.050103.

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