Flavonoids, a significant group of natural polyphenolic
compounds,
possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. Recent advances
in the systematic metabolic engineering of yeast cell factories (YCFs)
provide new opportunities for enhanced flavonoid production. Herein,
we outline the latest research progress on typical flavonoid products
in YCFs. Advanced engineering strategies involved in flavonoid biosynthesis
are discussed in detail, including enhancing precursor supply, cofactor
engineering, optimizing core pathways, eliminating competitive pathways,
relieving transport limitations, and dynamic regulation. Additionally,
we highlight the existing problems in the biosynthesis of flavonoid
glucosides in yeast, such as endogenous degradation of flavonoid glycosides,
substrate promiscuity of UDP-glycosyltransferases, and an insufficient
supply of UDP-sugars, with summaries on the corresponding solutions.
Discussions also cover other typical postmodifications like prenylation and methylation,
and the recent biosynthesis of complex flavonoid compounds in yeast.
Finally, a series of advanced technologies are envisioned, i.e., semirational
enzyme engineering, ML/DL algorithn, and systems biology, with the
aspiration of achieving large-scale industrial production of flavonoid
compounds in the future.