Unlocking the potential of flavonoid biosynthesis through integrated metabolic engineering.

Journal: Frontiers in plant science
Published Date: May 29, 2025

Abstract

Flavonoids are a diverse class of plant polyphenols with essential roles in development, defense, and environmental adaptation, as well as significant applications in medicine, nutrition, and cosmetics. However, their naturally low abundance in plant tissues poses a major barrier to large-scale utilization. This review provides a comprehensive and forward-looking synthesis of flavonoid biosynthesis, regulation, transport, and yield enhancement strategies. We highlight key advances in understanding transcriptional and epigenetic control of flavonoid pathways, focusing on the roles of MYB, bHLH, and WD40 transcription factors and chromatin modifications. We also examine flavonoid transport mechanisms at cellular and tissue levels, supported by emerging spatial metabolomics data. Distinct from conventional reviews, this review explores how plant cell factories, genome editing, environmental optimization, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven metabolic engineering can be integrated to boost flavonoid production. By bridging foundational plant science with synthetic biology and digital tools, this review outlines a novel roadmap for sustainable, high-yield flavonoid production with broad relevance to both research and industry.

Authors

  • Yuan Wang
    State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Changshu National Agro-Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
  • Jiahong Chen
    Key Laboratory of Grain Crop Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center, Shanghai, China.
  • Genhe He
    Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Functional Biology and Pollution Control in Red Soil Regions, School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, China.
  • Li Yin
    Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
  • Yonghui Liao
    Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Functional Biology and Pollution Control in Red Soil Regions, School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, China.

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