Expression of at least one plant oleosin gene in a microbial cell engineered to produce hydrophobic/lipophilic compounds significantly increases the overall titer of the compound. The hydrophobic nature of the oleosin core is believed to increase the microbial host cell's internal storage capacity for any hydrophobic/lipophilic compound. The method is exemplified using a bacterial host cell engineered to produce significant amount of various carotenoids.