Elucidated biosynthetic pathway for the individual steps in the formation of sarcinaxanthin and its glucosides from lycopene. CrtEBI, GGPP synthase, phytoene synthase, and phytoene desaturase; CrtE2, lycopene elongase; CrtYg plus CrtYf, C50 carotenoid γ-cyclase; CrtX, C50 carotenoid glycosyl transferase.