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Metabolic engineering as a tool for enhanced lactic acid production
Bikram P Upadhyaya1, Linda C DeVeaux2, Lew P Christopher1
1Center for Bioprocessing Research & Development, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City 57701, SD, USA; Biomedical Engineering Program, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Rapid City 57701, SD, USA.
Metabolic engineering enhances microbial production of lactic acid by improving fermentation and substrate utilization. This review covers strategies for optimizing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microbiology
- Biochemical Engineering
Background:
- Metabolic engineering is crucial for developing microbial strains for industrial applications.
- Lactic acid production is a key area benefiting from metabolic engineering, focusing on higher yields, reduced costs, and environmental benefits.
- Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are increasingly engineered due to their high yields and manageable genomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize current trends and strategies in metabolic engineering for lactic acid production.
- To highlight advancements in manipulating metabolic pathways for improved lactic acid fermentation.
- To address challenges in optimizing lactic acid production organisms.
Main Methods:
- Engineering metabolic pathways in microorganisms.
- Enhancing acid tolerance in production strains.
- Improving substrate utilization capabilities, including biomass-derived sugars.
- Genetic manipulation of lactic acid bacteria.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in lactic acid productivity have been achieved through metabolic engineering.
- Enhanced acid tolerance and broader substrate utilization broaden the applicability of production organisms.
- Focus on LAB facilitates genetic manipulation for high-yield lactic acid synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic engineering offers powerful tools for optimizing lactic acid production.
- Current strategies focus on enhancing fermentation parameters, acid tolerance, and substrate flexibility.
- Further advancements in manipulating LAB hold promise for efficient and sustainable lactic acid manufacturing.
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