A Review of the Progress in the Microbial Biosynthesis of Prenylated Aromatic Compounds

Prenylated aromatic compounds (PACs) are widely distributed in nature and have important applications in medicine, cosmetics, and food due to their antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities as well as role in the prevention of neurological diseases. Traditional methods of PAC production such as plant extraction and chemical synthesis remain constrained by the low content of these compounds in plants and the complexity of the chemical processes. PACs are synthesized from aromatic compound receptors and prenyl side chain donors, which are in turn synthesized via the shikimate pathway and 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate/mevalonic acid pathways, respectively. Increasing exploration and research on prenyltransferases (PTs), the key enzymes involved in PAC biosynthesis, have facilitated the emergence of microbial synthesis of PACs as a promising alternative to industrial production. The microbial biosynthesis of PACs is summarized herein, mainly from the perspective of screening and modification of the key enzymes PTs, selection of suitable host systems, and engineering the modification of microbial cell factories to enhance the yields of PACs. The future prospects and challenges of PAC biosynthesis are also discussed.