Progress on Biotechnological Production of Butyric Acid / 中国生物工程杂志

ABSTRACT

Butyric acid can be used to produce cellulose butyrate fiber and ester derivatives,and to be applied in foodstuffs and perfume industries.Recent researches have found that butyric acid is a preferred carbon source for colonic epithelial cells,and can inhibit histone deacetylase,showing great anticancer potentials.With more and more functions of butyric acid being found and applied in bio-related fields,and with consumer's growing preference to bioproducts,biotechnological production of butyric acid will receive more competence than petroleum-based chemical synthesis.Low product concentration and poor selectivity are presently the main restricting factors.Workers have made considerable progress on more cheep carbon sources,optimization of fermentation process,simplifying downstream processing,and genetic engineering of producing strains.Any achievement on these aspects in the future can contribute to put fermentation of butyric acid into industry.