Phytoene desaturase (neurosporene-forming)

Phytoene desaturase (neurosporene-forming) (, 3-step phytoene desaturase, three-step phytoene desaturase, phytoene desaturase (ambiguous), CrtI (ambiguous)) is an enzyme with systematic name 15-cis-phytoene:acceptor oxidoreductase (neurosporene-forming). This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction


 * 15-cis-phytoene + 3 acceptor $$\rightleftharpoons$$ all-trans-neurosporene + 3 reduced acceptor (overall reaction)
 * (1a) 15-cis-phytoene + acceptor $$\rightleftharpoons$$ all-trans-phytofluene + reduced acceptor
 * (1b) all-trans-phytofluene + acceptor $$\rightleftharpoons$$ all-trans-zeta-carotene + reduced acceptor
 * (1c) all-trans-zeta-carotene + acceptor $$\rightleftharpoons$$ all-trans-neurosporene + reduced acceptor

This enzyme is involved in carotenoid biosynthesis.