Biosynthesis of cycloartenol by expression of plant and bacterial oxidosqualene cyclases in engineered Rhodobacter capsulatus

•R. capsulatus is suitable for expression of plant/microbial cycloartenol synthases.•Titers were independent of chosen plant and myxobacterial cycloartenol synthases.•Co-expression of the mevalonate pathway had little impact on cycloartenol levels.•Deletion of crtE led to threefold increased cycloartenol product titers.