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Itaconic acid biomanufacturing: metabolic engineering and green process development
Jiaqi Yu1,2,3, Zhiwen Wang1,2,4, Tao Chen1,2,3
1State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China.
Critical Reviews in Biotechnology
|July 30, 2026
Summary
This review explores metabolic engineering strategies to improve itaconic acid (IA) biosynthesis. Advances in IA production focus on enhancing substrate efficiency and utilizing renewable resources for sustainable, low-carbon industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering
- Industrial Microbiology
- Biochemical Engineering
Background:
- Itaconic acid (IA) is a versatile unsaturated dicarboxylic acid with significant industrial, medical, food, and energy applications.
- Biotechnological IA production offers sustainability and controllability advantages but faces cost-competitiveness barriers.
- Key challenges include low substrate utilization, pathway regulation difficulties, downstream separation bottlenecks, and environmental concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances and key technologies in itaconic acid (IA) biosynthesis.
- To analyze engineering strategies for de novo IA production and discuss whole-cell catalysis and fermentation optimization.
- To examine the use of renewable resources and prospects of AI-assisted engineering and green process technologies for IA production.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of metabolic engineering strategies for de novo itaconic acid production.
- Review of whole-cell catalysis and fermentation process optimization techniques.
- Examination of renewable substrates and AI-assisted strain engineering approaches.
Main Results:
- Engineering strategies for de novo IA production have been analyzed.
- Whole-cell catalysis and fermentation process optimization show potential for enhancing IA yield.
- The use of renewable resources and AI-assisted engineering are promising for sustainable IA biosynthesis.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic engineering and bioprocess innovations are crucial for overcoming IA production challenges.
- Sustainable and low-carbon IA biosynthesis can be achieved through advanced engineering and green technologies.
- Further research in AI-assisted strain engineering and optimized bioprocesses will drive industrial IA production.
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