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Itaconic acid production in microorganisms

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Abstract

Itaconic acid, 2-methylidenebutanedioic acid, is a precursor of polymers, chemicals, and fuels. Many fungi can synthesize itaconic acid; Aspergillus terreus and Ustilago maydis produce up to 85 and 53 g l−1, respectively. Other organisms, including Aspergillus niger and yeasts, have been engineered to produce itaconic acid. However, the titer of itaconic acid is low compared with the analogous major fermentation product, citric acid, for which the yield is > 200 g l−1. Here, we review two types of pathway for itaconic acid biosynthesis as well as recent advances by metabolic engineering strategies and process optimization to enhance itaconic acid productivity in native producers and heterologous hosts. We also propose further improvements to overcome existing problems.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31570052, 31601456, 21708016) and Six talent peaks project in Jiangsu Province (No. 2014-XCL-017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China

    Meilin Zhao, Xinyao Lu, Hong Zong, Jinyang Li & Bin Zhuge

  2. The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China

    Meilin Zhao, Xinyao Lu, Hong Zong, Jinyang Li & Bin Zhuge

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  1. Meilin Zhao
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  2. Xinyao Lu
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  3. Hong Zong
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Correspondence to Bin Zhuge.

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Zhao, M., Lu, X., Zong, H. et al. Itaconic acid production in microorganisms. Biotechnol Lett 40, 455–464 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-017-2500-5

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