Carrp enzyme variants and their use in producing carotenoid and apocarotenoid

A modified bi-functional enzyme catalyzing the conversion of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) into phytoene and/or conversion of lycopene into beta-carotene, said enzyme comprising one or more amino acid substitution(s), such as amino acid substitution(s) being introduced into a sequence with at least about 20%, such as 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 92, 95, 97, 98, 99% or up to 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or shown in FIG. 1, said one or more amino acid substitution(s) being introduced at position(s) corresponding to amino acid residue(s) selected from the group consisting of position 7, 33, 153, 159, 167, 194, 305, 330, 430, 431, 432, 476, 547, 579, and combinations thereof, in the polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO:1 or shown in FIG. 1, and wherein the catalytic activity towards production of apocarotenoids, particularly retinoids, or carotenoids is increased by at least about 5% when expressed in a suitable apocarotenoid/retinoid-producing host cell as compared to the corresponding host cell expressing CarRP according to SEQ ID NO:1 or shown in FIG. 1.