A microorganism is provided which allows carotenoid production in industrial production scale. A method of preparing a carotenoid includes: culturing a cell transformed with a DNA chain having a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (f) or a cell transformed with a vector having a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of the following (a) to (f) in an appropriate culture condition, and isolating carotenoid from the cell or a culture medium: (a) DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide having such an enzymatic activity of Paracoccus sp. Strain MBIC1143 that converts a methylene group at 4 position in β-ionone ring into a keto group (crtW), described in SEQ ID NO: 2, or a substantially homologous DNA sequence thereof； (b) DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide having such an enzymatic activity of Paracoccus sp. Strain MBIC1143 that adds one hydroxyl group to a carbon at 3-position of 4-keto-β-ionone ring and/or at 3-position of β-ionone ring (crtZ), described in SEQ ID NO: 3, or a substantially homologous DNA sequence thereof； (c) DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide having such an enzymatic activity of Paracoccus sp. Strain MBIC1143 that converts lycopene into β-carotene (crtY), described in SEQ ID NO: 4, or a substantially homologous DNA sequence thereof； (d) DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide having such an enzymatic activity of Paracoccus sp. Strain MBIC1143 that converts phytoene into lycopene (crtI), described in SEQ ID NO: 5, or a substantially homologous DNA sequence thereof； (e) DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide having prephytoene synthase activity of Paracoccus sp. Strain MBIC1143 (crtB), as described in SEQ ID NO: 6, or a substantially homologous DNA sequence thereof； and (f) DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide having geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase activity of Paracoccus sp. Strain MBIC1143 (crtE), as described in SEQ ID NO: 7, or a substantially homologous DNA sequence thereof.
