Metabolic Engineering of Carotenoid Synthesis: Development of a Production System with Nicotiana glauca and Improvement of the Nutritional Value of Potato

Carotenoid pigments are of commercial interest as animal feed and play an important role in human metabolism. β-Carotene is important as provitamin A and lutein and zeaxanthin have to be constantly integrated into the macula lutea in the central retina of the eye to prevent age-dependent macular degeneration. Diets rich in carotenoids prevent the onset of certain chronic diseases and certain types of cancer.