Application of Rational and Irrational Strategies in the Construction of Prokaryotic Cell Factories for the Bioproduction of Aromatic Amino Acid-Derived Chemicals

Aromatic amino acid-derived chemicals are compounds with special biological activities and huge market value. Conventional production methods for aromatic amino acid derivatives, including plant extraction and chemical synthesis based on the petrochemical industry, are far from being environmentally friendly or sustainable. Although the emergence of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology has enabled the biological synthesis of these chemicals, the biosynthetic pathways involved are complex and subject to strict metabolic regulation. Moreover, the target products often exhibit cytotoxicity and place a heavy burden on cellular metabolism. Consequently, the current fermentative production of these chemicals faces significant challenges in achieving high titers and yields. Therefore, there is considerable potential for improvement in the fermentation production of aromatic amino acid-derived chemicals. Rational and irrational modifications have been regarded as important means of cell factory breeding, and the use of rational and irrational strategies to construct aromatic amino acid cell factories has become a mainstream approach. Despite extensive research on eukaryotic cell factories, the prokaryotic cell chassis is particularly well-suited for scenarios that demand the rapid, efficient, and cost-effective production of target products. In this review, we summarize the challenges, construction strategies, and latest technologies involved in developing prokaryotic cell factories for producing aromatic amino acid-derived chemicals, with a particular focus on some rational and irrational strategies. Additionally, we have explored potential directions for the future of this field, aiming to provide valuable insights and guidance for the construction and optimization of cell factories specialized in producing these important and special compounds.