Recent advances in microbial production of S-adenosyl-L-methionine and its high-value derivatives.

Recent advances in microbial engineering have significantly improved the biosynthesis of SAM and its derivatives, with key strategies enhancing production of compounds like ferulic acid and ergothioneine.

• Why it matters: SAM is vital for producing high-value compounds across life sciences, but current industrial methods rely on environmentally burdensome chemical synthesis, highlighting the need for sustainable biomanufacturing solutions.
• What they did: The review details systems metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches, focusing on strategies to improve SAM biosynthesis, utilization, and recycling in microbial systems for derivatives such as creatine and spermidine.
• The result: These advances enable more sustainable microbial production of SAM-dependent compounds, addressing current challenges and paving the way for efficient, environmentally friendly biomanufacturing of high-value products.