title: Biotechnological production of alpha-keto acids: Current status and perspectives.
abstract: Alpha-keto (α-keto) acids are used widely in feeds, food additives, pharmaceuticals, and in chemical synthesis processes. Although most α-keto acids are currently produced by chemical synthesis, their biotechnological production from renewable carbohydrates is a promising new approach. In this mini-review, we first present the different types of α-keto acids as well as their applications; next, we summarize the recent progresses in the biotechnological production of some important α-keto acids; namely, pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, α-ketoisovalerate, α-ketoisocaproate, phenylpyruvate, α-keto-γ-methylthiobutyrate, and 2,5-diketo-d-gluconate. Finally, we discuss the future prospects as well as favorable directions for the biotechnological production of keto acids that ultimately would be more environment-friendly and simpler compared with the production by chemical synthesis.
authors: Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Song
authors: Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
authors: Jianghua
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta 30332, USA.
authors: Hyun-Dong
authors: HD
authors: Shin
authors: Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
authors: Long
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China. Electronic address: gcdu@jiangnan.edu.cn.
authors: Guocheng
authors: G
authors: Du
authors: Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D048230:Corynebacterium glutamicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005942:Gluconates / Q000378:metabolism; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D007651:Keto Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005942:Gluconates; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D007651:Keto Acids; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids; C063875:2,5-diketogluconate; C001505:alpha-ketoisovalerate; C013082:alpha-ketoisocaproic acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid
keywords: 2,5-Diketo-d-gluconate; Pyruvate; α-Keto acid; α-Keto-γ-methylthiobutyrate; α-Ketoglutarate; α-Ketoisocaproate; α-Ketoisovalerate