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Terpenoids and their biosynthesis in cyanobacteria
Bagmi Pattanaik1, Pia Lindberg2
1Department of Chemistry-Ångström, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden. bagmi.pattanaik@kemi.uu.se.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 24, 2015
Summary
Cyanobacteria produce diverse terpenoids via the methylerythritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway. This review details current knowledge on cyanobacterial terpenoid biosynthesis and metabolic engineering for producing valuable compounds.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Metabolic Engineering
- Cyanobacterial Biology
Background:
- Terpenoids, essential compounds with diverse structures, are synthesized in cyanobacteria through the methylerythritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway.
- The MEP pathway utilizes photosynthetic products (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and pyruvate) to form key precursors for terpenoid biosynthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current understanding of terpenoid biosynthesis in cyanobacteria.
- To explore metabolic engineering strategies for heterologous terpenoid production in cyanobacteria.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on MEP pathway and terpenoid formation in cyanobacteria.
- Analysis of metabolic engineering approaches for enhancing terpenoid yields.
Main Results:
- The MEP pathway's products, isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate, are fundamental building blocks for all terpenoids.
- Terpenoids possess valuable properties for pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and biofuels.
Conclusions:
- Further elucidation of the MEP pathway and terpenoid formation in cyanobacteria is crucial for biotechnological applications.
- Metabolic engineering holds potential for optimizing cyanobacteria as hosts for producing diverse and valuable terpenoids.
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