Rice University Aug 11 2025 A new study reveals how Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis), a common food bacterium, regulates the production of a key precursor in vitamin K₂ (menaquinone) biosynthesis. The bacteria produce enough of this precursor to support their growth while preventing toxic buildup. Engineering microbes to overproduce vitamins provides a greener and more cost-effective alternative to chemical synthesis or extraction from plants and animals. However, bacterial cells typically limit