Strategies to improve microbial lipid production: Optimization techniques

The exponentially depleting fossil fuel reserves has led to the growth of lipids being used as an alternate potential feedstock, derived from varied sources, including plants, animals and microbes. In comparison to plant and animal sources, microbial sources can generate higher fractions of polyunsaturated fatty acids but their extraction is not industrially feasible or economical. Although statistical optimization techniques have enhanced lipid accumulation, these aren't sufficient to compete on a commercial scale. Advances in genetic engineering and systems biology tools have helped us get a better insight of the complex pathways involved, hence has a more directed and definite approach. This review discusses about the recent advances in microbial lipid accumulation, focusing on the metabolic engineering strategies.