The present invention provides engineered cells and methods for utilizing same. Methods of enhanced
carotenoid synthesis utilizing cells genetically disrupted for a yjiD, hnr or yjfP
gene, or further disrupted for a gdhA, gpmB, aceE, ppc, talB or fdhF
gene, or any combination thereof, or cells inhibited for their expression, activity or function are disclosed. Additionally, methods of enhanced
carotenoid synthesis utilizing cells genetically disrupted for gdhA, aceE, fdhF, yjiD, hnr or yjfP
gene expression or any combination thereof and ackA, appY, aspC, clp, clpP, clpXP, crcB, csdA, cyaA, evgS, fdhA, fdhD, feoB, funA, glnE, glxR, gntK, hycI, lipB, lysU, modA, moeA, nadA, nuoC, nuoK, pflB, pitA, pst, pstC, pta, p-yjiD, sohA, sipA, yagR, yaiD, ybaS, ycfZ, ydeN, yebB, yedN, yfcC, ygjP, yibD, yjfP, yjhH, or yliE
gene expression, or a combination thereof or cells inhibited for their expression, activity or function are disclosed. Methods of enhanced
carotenoid synthesis utilizing cells
genetically engineered to overexpress dxs, idi, ispFD, yjiD, rpoS, torC, appY, ydgK, yeiA, yedR, tort, arcB, yggT, purDH, yfjN or a combination thereof, or further disrupted for the above-referenced genes are disclosed. Methods for identifying genes involved in optimized production of a carotenoid, and cells disrupted for, or inhibited for the expression, activity or function of genes thus identified are described.