Table 1 Escherichia coli strains used in this work

CAR026

ATCC 8739, M1–37::dxs, M1–46::idi, ldhA::P-trc::crtEIB::ldhA ,M1–46::SucAB,M1–46::sdh, M1–46::talB, mRSL-4::ispG, mRSL-14::ispH, pta::P-trc::crtY::pta ,poxB::P-trc::MVA::poxB

1

0

0

0

[14]

CAR032

CAR026, mgsA::P-trc::crtY

2

0

0

0

This work

Strains for producing astaxanthin

 Ast004

CAR026, mgsA::P-trc::crtZW*

1

0

1

1

[14]

 Ast005

CAR026, mgsA::P-trc::crtYZW*

2

0

1

1

[14]

 Gro-46

Ast005, pflB::crtZ::M1-RBSL-9,gno::M1-46

2

0

2

1

[14]

 Ast014

Can004, manA::P-trc::crtZ

2

0

1

2

This work

 Ast015

Can004, manA::P-trc:: crtZ-crtZ

2

0

2

2

This work

 Ast016

Can004, manA::P-trc:: PCcrtZ

2

1

0

2

This work

 Ast017

Can004, manA::P-trc:: PCcrtZ-PCcrtZ

2

2

0

2

This work

 Ast018

Ast017, pflB::P-trc::PCcrtZ

2

3

0

2

This work

 Ast019

Ast017, pflB::P-trc::PCcrtZ-PCcrtZ

2

4

0

2

This work

 Ast010

Gro-46,manA::P-trc:: PCcrtZ-crtW*

2

1

2

2

This work

Strains for producing zeaxanthin

 Zea001

CAR032, manA::P-trc::PCcrtZ

2

1

0

0

This work

 Zea002

CAR032, manA::P-trc::PCcrtZ-PCcrtZ

2

2

0

0

This work

 Zea003

CAR032, manA::P-trc::crtZ

2

0

1

0

This work

 Zea004

CAR032, manA::P-trc::crtZ-crtZ

2

0

2

0

This work

Strains for producing canthaxanthin

 Can003

CAR026, mgsA::P-trc::crtYW*

2

0

0

1

This work

 Can004

Can003,lacZ::P-trc::crtW*

2

0

0

2

This work