Is required for retinal production and bacteriorhodopsin biogenesis. Probably catalyzes the cleavage of beta-carotene at its central double bond (15,15') to yield two molecules of all-trans-retinal. all-trans-beta-carotene + O2 = 2 all-trans-retinal Cells lacking brp gene display a 4-fold decrease in bacteriorhodopsin levels compared with wild-type, whereas bacterioopsin levels are normal. Moreover, the beta-carotene level is increased by 3.8-fold, whereas that of retinal is decreased by 3.7-fold. Deletion of both brp and blh completely abolishes bacteriorhodopsin and retinal production, again without affecting bacterioopsin accumulation, and the level of beta-carotene is increased by 5.3-fold. Belongs to the Brp/Blh beta-carotene diooxygenase family. Extended N-terminus.