Xylitol: bioproduction and applications - a review

Xylitol, a natural compound classified as a sugar alcohol, is found diversely in fruits and vegetables in small quantities. Commercial production of xylitol has expanded due to its health benefits and wide applications as an alternative sweetener in food and pharmaceutical products. Production of xylitol on large scale is industrially being achieved by the chemical method. However, the biotechnological method offers the possibilities of lowered cost and energy compared to the chemical methods. It involves the conversion of xylose to xylitol by microbes or enzymes which is environmentally safe. This review highlights the prospects of the biotechnological method of xylitol production. Various microorganisms that have been used to produce xylitol, the bioprocess parameters, and genetic modifications to increase xylitol yield have been reviewed. In addition, the applications, benefits, and safety concerns to health have been discussed

An eclectic review on dicarboxylic acid production through yeast cell factories and its industrial prominence

Dicarboxylic acid (DCA) is a multifaceted chemical intermediate, recoursed to produce many industrially important products such as adhesives, plasticizers, lubricants, polymers, etc. To bypass the shortcomings of the chemical methods of synthesis of DCA and to reduce fossil fuel footprints, bio-based synthesis is gaining attention. In pursuit of an eco-friendly sustainable alternative method of DCA production, microbial cell factories, and renewable organic resources are gaining popularity. Among the plethora of microbial communities, yeast is being favored industrially compared to bacterial fermentation due to its hyperosmotic and low pH tolerance and flexibility for gene manipulations. By application of rapidly evolving genetic manipulation techniques, the bio-based DCA production could be made more precise and economical. To bridge the gap between supply and demand of DCA, many strategies are employed to improve the fermentation. This review briefly outlines the advancements in DCA production using yeast cell factories with the exemplification of strain improvement strategies