Engineering Microbes to Produce Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Trends Biotechnol. 2019 Apr;37(4):344-346. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.10.002. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important for human health. They are traditionally extracted from animals and plants but can be alternatively derived from oleaginous microbes, and engineering microbial metabolism can improve PUFA accumulation. The next frontier is to engineer more efficient PUFA-producing microbes using systems and synthetic biology tools.

Keywords: lipids; metabolic engineering; oleaginous microbes; polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biotechnology / methods
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / biosynthesis*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / isolation & purification
  • Fungi / genetics*
  • Fungi / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Engineering / methods*
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics*
  • Stramenopiles / genetics*
  • Stramenopiles / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated