Recent advances in the microbial production of L-arginine and its derivatives using engineering Corynebacterium glutamicum and Escherichia coli.

Engineering Corynebacterium glutamicum and Escherichia coli has achieved record L-arginine titers up to 92.5 g/L, advancing microbial production capabilities for industrial use.

• Why it matters: Efficient microbial synthesis of L-arginine is crucial for various industries, but current strains face limitations like feedback inhibition and high by-product formation, hindering scalability.
• What they did: The review summarizes metabolic pathways, regulatory mechanisms, and engineering strategies—such as boosting pathway flux, precursor supply, and product efflux—applied to C. glutamicum and E. coli to improve production.
• The result: These advances enable the development of more robust cell factories, paving the way for higher yields, expanded substrate use, and production of L-arginine derivatives, supporting industrial demands.