Biosynthesis of Indigoidine in Microorganisms: Strategies and Applications

Indigoidine, a microbial-derived pyridone pigment, has emerged as a promising sustainable alternative to synthetic blue dyes in textile industry. Its biosynthesis is mediated by nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), offering a favorable alternative to conventional chemical synthesis for pigment production. Recent advances in synthetic biology have facilitated the scalable engineering of microbial chassis strains, enabling industrial level pigment production. However, challenges persist in pathway optimization, titer improvement, and application diversity. In this review, we systematically examine microbial host systems, metabolic and enzyme engineering approaches, and synthetic biology techniques to enhance indigoidine production. This review offers a roadmap for advancing next-generation microbial cell factories for pigment manufacturing.