biostudies-literatureHanko EKREngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council312https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11575205biostudies-literatureUnknown23(1)<h4>Background</h4>Flavonoids are a structurally diverse group of secondary metabolites, predominantly produced by plants, which include a range of compounds with pharmacological importance. Pinocembrin is a key branch point intermediate in the biosynthesis of a wide range of flavonoid subclasses. However, replicating the biosynthesis of these structurally diverse molecules in heterologous microbial cell factories has encountered challenges, in particular the modest pinocembrin titres achieved to date. In this study, we combined genome engineering and enzyme candidate screening to significantly enhance the production of pinocembrin and its derivatives, including chrysin, pinostrobin, pinobanksin, and galangin, in Escherichia coli.<h4>Results</h4>By implementing a combination of establishedMicrobial cell factoriesEngineering an Escherichia coli strain for enhanced production of flavonoids derived from pinocembrin.PMC11575205EP/S01778X/1Scrutton NSHanko EKRBhanot SJervis AJRobinson CJfalseEngineering an Escherichia coli strain for enhanced production of flavonoids derived from pinocembrin.<h4>Background</h4>Flavonoids are a structurally diverse group of secondary metabolites, predominantly produced by plants, which include a range of compounds with pharmacological importance. Pinocembrin is a key branch point intermediate in the biosynthesis of a wide range of flavonoid subclasses. However, replicating the biosynthesis of these structurally diverse molecules in heterologous microbial cell factories has encountered challenges, in particular the modest pinocembrin titres achieved to date. In this study, we combined genome engineering and enzyme candidate screening to significantly enhance the production of pinocembrin and its derivatives, including chrysin, pinostrobin, pinobanksin, and galangin, in Escherichia coli.<h4>Results</h4>By implementing a combination of established2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Nov2025-04-04T20:39:02.258Z2025-04-04T20:39:02.258ZS-EPMC115752053955834110.1186/s12934-024-02582-z