Facile biotic production of itaconic acid exposed to coumarin

Itaconic acid (IA) is a well-known bio-based monounsaturated organic acid (C5H6O4), with a white color and crystalline structure. It is widely used in the agro-based, plastics, textile, paint and pharmaceutical sectors, owing to its flexible structure, due to the presence of functional groups with covalent double bonds. IA is an alternative to the petrochemicals acrylic and methacrylic acids. Commercial manufacturing of IA using Aspergillus terreus is more economically effective and feasible, and the Department of Energy of the United States added IA under the “top 12” organic chemicals in 2004. This review provides an overview on the synthesis of IA and improvement of its yield by mutagenesis and metabolic engineering of Aspergillus and other fungal strains, along with its wide applications for food, pharmaceutical and textile purposes. Itaconic acid is mainly used in the plastic and paint industry. It is an unsaturated dicarbonic acid, and can readily be incorporated into polymers and used at a concentration of 1–5% (w/w) as a comonomer in polymers. The efficacy of 6,8-difluoro-7-hydroxy-4-methyl coumarin was studied on itaconic acid production by Aspergillus terreus PK-222. It has been found that the coumarins under trial has stimulatory effect and has enhanced the yield of itaconic acid to an extent of 6.628% in comparison to control.