title: Production of squalene by microbes: an update.
abstract: Squalene, a naturally occurring linear triterpene formed via MVA or MEP biosynthetic pathway, is widely distributed in microorganisms, plants and animals. At present, squalene is used extensively in the food, cosmetic and medicine industries because of its antioxidant, antistatic and anti-carcinogenic properties. Increased consumer demand has led to the development of microbial bioprocesses for the commercial production of squalene, in addition to the traditional methods of isolating squalene from the liver oils of deep-sea sharks and plant seed oils. As knowledge of the biosynthetic enzymes and of regulatory mechanisms modulating squalene production increases, opportunities arise for the genetic engineering of squalene production in hosts. In this review, we present the various strategies used up to date to improve and/or engineer squalene production in microbes and analyze yields.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medical Science, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medical Science, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medical Science, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710021, Shaanxi, China. yang.wang@xiyi.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0984-6956
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005285:Fermentation; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012754:Sharks / Q000378:metabolism; D013185:Squalene / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D013185:Squalene
keywords: Biosynthesis; Fermentation; Metabolic engineering; Microbial production; Squalene