Redefining methods for augmenting lactic acid bacteria robustness and phenyllactic acid biocatalysis: Integration valorizes simplicity

Abstract

The production of phenyllactic acid (PLA) has been reported by several researchers, but so far, no mention has been made of augmented PLA production using an orchestrated assembly of simple techniques integrated to improve lactic acid bacteria (LAB) metabolism for the same. This review summarizes sequentially tailoring LAB growth and metabolism for augmented PLA catalysis through several strategies like monitoring LAB sustenance by choosing appropriate starter PLA-producing LAB strains isolated from natural environments, with desirably fastidious growth rates, properties like acidification, proteolysis, bacteriophage-resistance, aromatic/texturing-features, etc.; entrapping chosen LAB strains in novel cryogels and/or co-cultivating two/more LAB strains to improve their biotransformation potential and promote growth dependency/sustainability; adopting adaptive evolution methods designed to improve LAB strains under selection pressure inducing desired phenotypes tolerant to stress factors like heat, salt, acid, and solvent; monitoring physico-chemical LAB fermentation factors like temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen content, enzymes, and cofactors for PLA biosynthesis; and modulating purification/downstream processes to extract substantial PLA yields. This review paper serves as a comprehensive preliminary guide that can evoke a strategic experimental plan to produce industrial-scale PLA yields using simple techniques orchestrated together in the pursuit of conserving time, effort, and resources.

Keywords:

• Lactic acid bacteria
• phenyllactic acid
• metabolism
• growth
• fermentation
• improve
• yield

Author contributions

Haritha Meruvu: Project Coordinator (Researcher), Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Resources, Funding acquisition, Writing—original draft, review, editing.

Schematic Credits

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Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement N° 801509 and TÜBİTAK—2236 Co-Funded Brain Circulation Scheme 2: Project number 121C360, B.14.2.TBT.0.06.01-E.35723. Dr. Haritha Meruvu (Grant recipient) profoundly expresses her gratitude for the same.