Microbial Metabolic Engineering of Escherichia coli for De Novo Production of 1‐Dodecanol: A Review

Abstract 1‐Dodecanol, a medium‐chain fatty alcohol containing 12 carbon atoms, has attracted industrial interest due to its widespread applications. However, its traditional production methods, which rely on petrochemical and plant‐based sources, may raise concerns related to environmental impact and resource use. As an alternative, microbial cell factories using engineered Escherichia coli have emerged as a promising approach, with the aid of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. This review explores strategies for engineering E. coli for 1‐dodecanol biosynthesis, focusing on modifications of the native fatty acid biosynthetic pathways to direct the flux toward de novo 1‐dodecanol production. We present a workflow for modifying the pathways and discuss studies that have implemented engineered E. coli for 1‐dodecanol production. The challenges of product toxicity and low yields are also discussed. This review highlights the potential of microbial cell factories for sustainable 1‐dodecanol production and outlines opportunities for future optimization and scale‐up.