Engineering functional homopolymeric amino acids: from biosynthesis to design

Homopolymeric amino acids (HPAs) are a class of microbial polymers that can be classified into two categories: anionic and cationic HPAs. Notable examples include γ-poly-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) and ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) that have wide-ranging applications in medicine, food, and agriculture. The primary method of manufacture is through microbial synthesis. In recent decades significant efforts have been made to enhance the production of HPAs, specifically focusing on γ-PGA and ε-PL. We comprehensively review current advances in understanding the synthetic mechanisms as well as metabolic engineering and fermentation process techniques to improve the production of HPAs. In addition, we discuss the major challenges and solutions associated with desired structure regulation of HPAs and the development of novel structures.