Function
Catalyzes the cleavage of beta-carotene at its central double bond (15,15') to yield two molecules of all-trans-retinal. Exhibits the highest activity for beta-carotene, followed by beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-apo-4'-carotenal, alpha-carotene, and gamma-carotene in decreasing order, but has no activity on beta-apo-8'-carotenal, beta-apo-12'-carotenal, lutein, zeaxanthin, or lycopene, suggesting that the presence of one unsubstituted beta-ionone ring in a substrate with a molecular weight greater than C35 seems to be essential for enzyme activity.