Cellular factories for coenzyme Q(10) production

Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)), a benzoquinone present in most organisms, plays an important role in the electron-transport chain, and its deficiency is associated with various neuropathies and muscular disorders. CoQ(10) is the only lipid-soluble antioxidant found in humans, and for this, it is gaining popularity in the cosmetic and healthcare industries. To meet the growing demand for CoQ(10), there has been considerable interest in ways to enhance its production, the most effective of which remains microbial fermentation. Previous attempts to increase CoQ(10) production to an industrial scale have thus far conformed to the strategies used in typical metabolic engineering endeavors. However, the emergence of new tools in the expanding field of synthetic biology has provided a suite of possibilities that extend beyond the traditional modes of metabolic engineering. In this review, we cover the various strategies currently undertaken to upscale CoQ(10) production, and discuss some of the potential novel areas for future research.