Systematic Reprogramming of Rhodobacter sphaeroides for Efficient Biosynthesis of Coenzyme Q10 and Porphyrins

Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a purple nonsulfur photosynthetic bacterium, displays exceptional metabolic versatility, enabling growth under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions and utilization of diverse carbon sources. Its flexible metabolism, combined with native pathways for terpenoid and tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, makes it a highly promising microbial chassis for the production of valuable compounds. Advances in metabolic and synthetic biology have allowed the engineering of R. sphaeroides for the efficient synthesis of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and porphyrin derivatives through strategies such as precursor supply enhancement, pathway optimization, modulation of redox and energy balance, manipulation of global regulatory systems, and fermentation control. Beyond CoQ10 and porphyrins, this organism holds the potential to produce hydrogen, carotenoids, and other high-value terpenoids. This review summarizes the metabolic features, native regulatory networks, and engineering approaches in R. sphaeroides, highlighting its versatility and robustness as a platform organism. The insights provided here underscore its potential as a chassis for synthetic biology applications and industrial bioproduction of a wide range of bioactive compounds.