Advances in optimization strategies for microbial high production of rhamnolipids

Abstract:

Rhamnolipids, the biosurfactants extensively studied, are widely used in enhanced oil recovery, environmental pollution remediation, agriculture, etc. However, compared with chemical surfactants, rhamnolipids has low biosynthetic yield, which leads to the high production cost and limits its large-scale application. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the optimization strategies for the high production of rhamnolipids. This paper briefs the biosynthesis of rhamnolipids and its influencing factors, reviews the recent advances in optimization strategies, including screening and improvement of high-yielding microbial strains, heterologous biosynthesis, biosynthetic pathway regulation, and fermentation optimization, for high production of rhamnolipids, and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of these strategies. Finally, we put forward insights and prospects for the current research on the high production of rhamnolipids.