Paclitaxel, a
diterpenoid alkaloid, is known as one of the most effective
plant antitumor drugs. At present,
paclitaxel products are mainly obtained by semi-
chemical synthesis, extraction from
Taxus spp.
plant and bark
cell culture synthesis. This study emphatically analyzed the
research progress in the
production of
paclitaxel. The identification of
genes related to
paclitaxel biosynthesis was summarized. Furthermore, it was assessed that the possibility of using the bark
cell culture of
Taxus chinensis, endophytic
fungi fermentation and the
synthetic biology heterologous synthesis to produce
paclitaxel compounds. The
review can provide theoretical reference for the establishment of green and sustainable industrial
production methods of the
paclitaxel active products and their precursors.