The Saccharomyces cerevisiae factory-driven efficient glucaric acid production: from metabolic engineering to process optimization

Abstract

Glucaric acid, a high-value platform compound derived from renewable resources, has garnered increasing attention due to its broad applications in food additives, pharmaceutical precursors, and green chemical industries. Compared to traditional chemical synthesis routes that rely heavily on strong oxidizing agents, the associated high energy consumption and environmental pollution have become increasingly prominent concerns. As a result, microbial biosynthesis has emerged as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative. In recent years, the rapid advances in metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and systems biology have propelled Saccharomyces cerevisiae into the spotlight as a promising microbial host for glucaric acid production, owing to its well-characterized genetic background, robust expression systems, and excellent adaptability to industrial fermentation environments. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current progress in engineering microbial strains for glucaric acid production, highlighting strategies for pathway construction and optimization, including functional enhancement of key enzymes, metabolic flux redistribution, and host stress-response modulation. Furthermore, recent developments in fermentation process optimization and downstream purification techniques are summarized. The article also explores the potential of glucaric acid in emerging applications such as biodegradable materials, biopharmaceuticals, and sustainable chemicals. Future research should prioritize the integration of innovative biotechnological strategies with scalable manufacturing processes to fully realize the industrial potential of glucaric acid within a framework of environmental sustainability and economic viability.