Bioscience Methods 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 114-123 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 114 Research Insight Open Access Metabolic Engineering of Tea: Enhancing Bioactive Compound Production Chunyu Li, Baofu Huang Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: baofu.huang@cuixi.org Bioscience Methods, 2024, Vol.15, No.3 doi: 10.5376/bm.2024.15.0013 Received: 08 Apr., 2024 Accepted: 23 May, 2024 Published: 10 Jun., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Li and Huang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li C.Y., and Huang Y.M., 2024, Metabolic engineering of tea: enhancing bioactive compound production, Bioscience Methods, 15(3): 114-123 (doi: 10.5376/bm.2024.15.0013) Abstract Tea is a widely consumed beverage globally, rich in bioactive compounds such as catechins, theaflavins, and thearubigins, which have significant health benefits. However, the content of these compounds is influenced by various factors, making it important to enhance their production in tea. This study presents the biosynthetic pathways of key bioactive compounds in tea, the key enzymes and genes involved, and strategies to increase the production of these compounds through metabolic engineering. The focus is on the application of modern technologies such as genetic modification, CRISPR-Cas9, and metabolic pathway redirection in tea metabolic engineering, with case studies demonstrating the impact of metabolic engineering on the production of bioactive compounds. The findings indicate that metabolic engineering can significantly increase the yield of key bioactive compounds in tea. Genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, provide powerful tools for precise regulation of metabolic pathways, effectively enhancing the synthesis efficiency of target compounds. By gaining a deep understanding of the metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanisms of bioactive compounds in tea, this study provides a theoretical foundation for developing tea products with higher health value. Metabolic engineering strategies not only increase the content of beneficial compounds in tea but also optimize the production process, meeting the market demand for high-quality tea products. Keywords Tea; Bioactive compounds; Metabolic engineering; Genome editing; CRISPR-Cas9 1 Introduction Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most widely consumed beverages globally, second only to water. It holds immense economic, medicinal, and cultural significance. The tea plant is cultivated extensively in various regions, contributing significantly to the agricultural economy (Xia et al., 2017; Wei et al., 2018). The unique flavor, aroma, and health benefits of tea are attributed to its diverse bioactive compounds, making it a valuable crop for both consumption and research (Li et al., 2022; Samanta, 2020). Tea is rich in bioactive compounds such as catechins, theanine, caffeine, and various polyphenols, which are responsible for its health-promoting properties. These compounds exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer activities, among other benefits (Shi et al., 2011; Li et al., 2022; Samanta, 2020). For instance, L-theanine, a unique amino acid found in tea, is known for its calming effects and potential applications in functional foods (Li et al., 2022). The presence of these bioactive compounds not only enhances the sensory qualities of tea but also contributes to its therapeutic potential (Cheng et al., 2017; Samanta, 2020).. Despite the known benefits of bioactive compounds in tea, enhancing their production poses several challenges. The complex biosynthetic pathways and the large genome size of the tea plant make genetic manipulation difficult (Shi et al., 2011; Xia et al., 2017; Wei et al., 2018). Additionally, environmental factors, cultivation practices, and microbial interactions in the rhizosphere can significantly influence the levels of these compounds (Bag et al., 2021). Understanding the genetic and biochemical pathways involved in the synthesis of these compounds is crucial for developing strategies to enhance their production (Shi et al., 2011; Xia et al., 2017; Wei et al., 2018). This study explores the latest advancements in the field of tea metabolic engineering to enhance the production of bioactive compounds; covers the genetic and biochemical pathways involved in the synthesis of key bioactive compounds, the role of environmental and microbial factors, and the potential applications of these findings in
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