Table 1 Fermentative production of C2–C4 diols by metabolic engineered strains based on different pathways

Ethylene glycol

 Escherichia coli

d-Xylonate-dependent

∆xylA, overexpression of xdh and yqhD

11.7

0.29

Batch, xylose

[35]

 Escherichia coli

d-Xylulose 1-phosphate-dependent

∆xylB∆ald, overexpression of khk-C, aldoB and fucO

20

0.38

Batch, xylose

[39]

 Escherichia coli

d-Ribulose 1-phosphate-dependent

∆xylB∆ald, overexpression of dte, fucK, fucA and fucO

40

0.35

Fed-batch, xylose

[6]

 Corynebacterium glutamicum

Serine-dependent

∆sdaA∆pabABC, overexpression of AsAO, AtSdc, yqhD, and serACB

3.5

0.09

Batch, glucose

[40]

1,3-Propanediol

 Escherichia coli

Glycerol-dependent

∆glpK∆gldA∆ndh∆ptsHI∆arcA, promoter change of gapA, overexpression gpd1, gpp2, dhaBCE, gdrAB, galP, glk, btuR, and yqhD

135

0.46

Fed-batch, glucose

[61]

 Escherichia coli

Homoserine-dependent

∆thrB, overexpression of gdh ^K92V/T195S, pdc, and yqhD

0.05

–

Shake flask, glucose

[66]

1,2-Propanediol

 Escherichia coli

Methylglyoxal-dependent

∆zwf∆tpiA∆adhE∆gloA∆ldhA, overexpression mgsA, gldA, fdh1, and fucO

5.13

0.48

Shake flask, glucose

[10]

 Escherichia coli

Lactate-dependent

∆poxB∆ackA-pta∆adhE∆dld∆ldhA, overexpression pct, pdcD, and mmsB

1.04

0.44

Shake flask, glucose

[80]

1,4-Butanediol

 Escherichia coli

Succinyl-CoA-dependent

∆pfl∆adhE∆mdh∆acrA∆ldhA∆ndh∆sad∆gabD∆puuE∆gabT∆sucCD, mutation of lpdA ^D354K, gltA ^R163L, overexpression of sucD, 4hbd, cat2, ald and adh

99

0.35

Fed-batch, glucose

[22]

 Escherichia coli

Modified Dahms pathway

∆xylA∆yjhH∆yagE, overexpression of xylBCDX, kivd ^V461I and adh

12

–

Fed-batch, glucose and xylose

[89]

2,3-Butanediol

 Saccharomyces cerevisiae

S-Acetolactate-dependent

ΔPDCs, overexpression of MTH1, cytoILV2, BsAlsD, and BDH1

100

–

Fed-batch, glucose and galactose

[106]

1,3-Butanediol

 Escherichia coli

Acetoacetyl-CoA-dependent

Overexpression of phaA, phaB, and bld

15.7

0.18

Fed-batch, glucose

[113]