Phytoene desaturase (3,4-didehydrolycopene-forming) (EC1.3.99.30, 5-step phytoene desaturase, five-step phytoene desaturase, phytoene desaturase (ambiguous), Al-1) is an enzyme with systematic name15-cis-phytoene:acceptor oxidoreductase (3,4-didehydrolycopene-forming).[1][2] This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction
^Hausmann A, Sandmann G (July 2000). "A single five-step desaturase is involved in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway to beta-carotene and torulene in Neurospora crassa". Fungal Genetics and Biology. 30 (2): 147–53. doi:10.1006/fgbi.2000.1212. PMID11017770.
^Estrada AF, Maier D, Scherzinger D, Avalos J, Al-Babili S (November 2008). "Novel apocarotenoid intermediates in Neurospora crassa mutants imply a new biosynthetic reaction sequence leading to neurosporaxanthin formation". Fungal Genetics and Biology. 45 (11): 1497–505. doi:10.1016/j.fgb.2008.09.001. PMID18812228.