Progress in microbial production of α-ketoglutarate

Abstract:

a-ketogluratate is one of the key intermediates in the TCA cycle, playing an important role in the connection of carbon and nitrogen metabolism. This article aims at stating recent research progress in the production of a-ketoglutarate by microbial fermentation. First, a large group of microbes have been screened to accumulate a-ketoglutarate including prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Second, physiological characterization of over-accumulation of a-ketoglutarate is caused by thiamine defect and nitrogen starvation. Third, the process of fermentation was controlled and optimized by the manipulation of pH, dissolved oxygen and cofactors. Fourth, many metabolic engineering strategies were also presented for a-ketoglutarate production focusing on regeneration of cofactor and manipulation of the pathway. Last, we discussed the limitation of current progress and proposed the future research needs for microbial production of a-ketoglutarate.