Conditions were developed for heterologous expression in Escherichia coli of the membrane-bound cyanobacterial/plant-type phytoene desaturase (PDS) from Synechococcus in an active form. Decrease of growth temperature for the transformant to 28 degrees C resulted in an increase of proteins in a supernatant fraction obtained after pressure disruption (20 MPa) of cells and centrifugation. This supernatant in which the highest PDS activity was found was used for purification to a homogeneous protein by ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE chromatography. The purified PDS was employed to determine substrate specificity and cofactor requirement. Substrates in addition to phytoene were phytofluene and 1,2-epoxy phytoene which were converted to zeta-carotene and the corresponding 1,2-epoxide. The reaction was stimulated by NAD, NADP, and oxygen. The K(m) values determined for phytoene and NADP were 3.5 microM and 14.3 mM, respectively.