Metabolic Engineering of Yeasts for the Production of the Triterpene Squalene: Current Status and Future Prospective.

ABSTRACT: Squalene, a linear triterpene compound characterized by its distinctive isoprenoid backbone with six transisoprene units, is widely used in the medicinal, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. The escalating global demand for squalene, coupled with growing ethical concerns over shark-derived sources and the inherent limitations of plant extraction (low yield) and chemical synthesis (environmental burden), has propelled microbial biosynthesis as a sustainable alternative. While substantial progress has been made in elucidating the mevalonate pathway and regulatory mechanisms of squalene biosynthesis, achieving industrially viable titers through microbial platforms remains an unresolved challenge. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in squalene biosynthesis using yeast ch

SUBMITTER: Zuo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12654689 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature