Molecular Genetics of Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant Production (A Mini-Review)

Rhamnolipid is a well characterized lipid having a broad spectrum of application from clinics to industry. It has been considered as one of the most vital molecules because of biological origin and surface activity. Rhamnolipid is composed of β-hydroxy fatty acid connected by the carboxyl end to a rhamnose sugar molecule which in nature are being produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was first discovered in 1984 and until 2018, hundreds and thousands of papers and patents have been published indicating the huge interest of biotechnologists all over the world. Almost all countries of the world, have worked on it and because of its diversity in structure, there are two types of rhamnolipids, mono- and di-rhamnolipids. Di-rhamnolipids are of most importance and enzymes have been prepared in labs to convert the mono-rhamnolipids to di-rhamnolipids. During the last few years, work has been done on the enhanced production of rhamnolipid which could fulfilled the industrial demand and can substitute the current chemical surfactants. Understand the molecular biology of rhamnolipid production will help its enhanced production and would explore the novel chapters of its applications.