天津工生所在檀香精油高效合成方面取得新进展

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the sustainable and large-scale production of sandalwood essential oil through synthetic biology, addressing the resource scarcity and high costs associated with natural sandalwood [1][3]. Group 1: Sandalwood Essential Oil Overview - Sandalwood essential oil, derived from sandalwood heartwood, is highly valued for its unique woody fragrance and is used in perfumes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and religious ceremonies [1]. - The slow growth of sandalwood trees, which take decades to mature, along with overharvesting, has led to a significant increase in market prices, approximately $2,500 per kilogram, and unstable supply [1]. Group 2: Synthetic Biology Approach - The research team at the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology has successfully developed a yeast cell factory capable of producing sandalwood alcohol, achieving a record yield of 10.4 g/L, which is the highest reported in literature [3][4]. - The team utilized subcellular compartment engineering to enhance the production process, specifically targeting the peroxisome for enzyme localization, which significantly improved the conversion rates of sandalwood precursors [4]. Group 3: Research and Development Achievements - The study demonstrated a 5.1-fold increase in total yield of sandalwood alcohol and sandalwood olefin, reaching 0.9 g/L, with further innovations leading to a conversion rate increase to 60.6% [4]. - The research has received funding from various national programs and has resulted in multiple patent applications, with findings published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry [5].