Polyphenols form a group of important natural bioactive compounds with numerous ascribed healthbeneficial
attributes (e.g. antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and tumor-suppressing properties). Some
polyphenols can also be used as natural dyes or plastic precursors. Notwithstanding their relevance, production of
most of these compounds still relies on extraction from plant material, which for most of it is a costly and an
inefficient procedure. The use of microbial cell factories for this purpose is an emerging alternative that could
allow a more efficient and sustainable production. The most recent advances in molecular biology and genetic
engineering, combined with the ever-growing understanding of microbial physiology have led to multiple success
stories. Production of multiple polyphenolic compounds or their direct precursors has been achieved not only in
the common production hosts, such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but also in Corynebacterium
glutamicum and Lactococcus lactis. However, boosting production of native compounds or introduction of
heterologous biosynthetic pathways also brings certain challenges, such as the need to express, balance and maintain
efficient precursor supply. This review will discuss the most recent advances in the field of metabolic engineering
of microorganisms for polyphenol biosynthesis and its future perspectives, as well as outlines their potential
health benefits and current production methods.
Recent advances in improving metabolic robustness of microbial cell factories
