Charting the path for l-tyrosine derivatives: from engineering strategies to microbial cell factories

Abstract

Covering: primarily from 2021 to the end of 2025

L-Tyrosine (L-Tyr) and its derivatives are high-value aromatic compounds with broad applications in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. The traditional methods for producing these natural products through natural extraction and chemical synthesis are often limited by sustainability, efficiency, and environmental concerns. Advances in synthetic biology have enabled the construction of microbial cell factories for green and scalable production, with Escherichia coli and yeast emerging as the preferred chassis organisms due to their well-characterized genetics and extensive toolkits. This review systematically summarizes the engineering strategies applied for the biosynthesis of L-Tyr and its derivatives in these hosts at the enzymatic, metabolic, and cellular levels. Focusing on tyrosol, p-coumaric acid, and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) as the key nodes, it highlights the cutting-edge advances primarily within the last five years. Finally, the review critically assesses the persistent challenges and future opportunities, offering a strategic roadmap to accelerate the biomanufacturing of L-Tyr-derived natural products.