Engineering central metabolic modules of Escherichia coli for improving β-carotene production

► Engineering TCA module was better than ATP and PPP for β-carotene production. ► Engineering TCA and PPP modules had a synergistic effect for β-carotene production. ► Combined engineering of five modules led to 74-fold yield increase. ► Our engineered strain produced 2.1 g/L β-carotene with a yield of 60 mg/g.