Compositions and methods of biosynthesizing carotenoids and their derivatives

A recombinant microorganism comprising a nucleic acid construct comprising:

• a) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a lycopene s-cyclase enzyme encoded by LCYe from Lactuca sativa;
• and
• b) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase enzyme encoded by CCD1 from Daucus carota:
• wherein the nucleic add sequences are operably linked to one or more expression control sequences, and wherein the microorganism further comprises lycopene.