Symmetrically cleaves beta-carotene into two molecules of retinal using a dioxygenase mechanism. all-trans-beta-carotene + O2 = 2 all-trans-retinal Binds 1 Fe(2+) ion per subunit. kcat is 0.45 min(-1) with all-trans-beta-carotene as substrate. Cofactor metabolism; retinol metabolism. Highly expressed in retinal pigment epithelium. Also expressed in kidney, testis, liver, brain, small intestine and colon. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the carotenoid oxygenase family.