Biological production of muconic acid from renewable biomass: advances in metabolic engineering and lignin valorisation
摘要
Muconic acid (MA) is characterized by two reactive carboxylic acid groups and two conjugated double bonds, making it a highly valuable industrial platform chemical with significant market potential. It serves as a key intermediate in the manufacturing of important commercial chemical products such as adipic acid and terephthalic acid. The finite fossil-based resources and climate issues due to CO2 emission have necessitated the microbial routes for the production of MA, a potential alternative to fossil-based synthesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the biological production of MA. The article begins with an outline of the present catalytic routes and known biochemical pathways for MA biosynthesis. The review then focuses on metabolic engineering strategies employed in various microbial hosts including Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Pseudomonas putida to enhance MA production from diverse feedstocks such as sugars, aromatic compounds, and lignin-derived substrates. Special attention is given to pathway optimization, host tolerance, and strategies enabling efficient conversion of lignin-derived intermediates within integrated biorefinery frameworks. Key challenges associated with scaling up bio-based MA production to industrial levels are discussed, along with potential strategies for developing robust and efficient microbial cell factories. The review concludes with future perspectives and recommendations to accelerate research progress and development in this field.
Graphical Abstract