Glucosylglycerols (GGs) are a group of functional heterosides comprising glycerol and glucose. In nature, they are mainly produced by many moderately salt-tolerant cyanobacteria as compatible solutes in a salt-dependent manner and synthesized in a few higher plants and fermentation processes. Because of their many interesting physicochemical properties and biological activities, such as low sweetness, low hygroscopicity, high water-holding capacity, excellent biocompatibility, favorable performance in protecting macromolecules, and antitumor activity, GGs exhibit large application potential in the fields of cosmetics, health care, food service, enzyme production, and pharmaceuticals. Many in vitro systems using different members of the GH (glycoside hydrolase) family have been established for the enzymatic synthesis of GGs, and a few of them are in use for commercial production. Based on a good understanding of the genetic bases, biochemical processes, and regulatory mechanisms of GG metabolism in microorganisms (mainly cyanobacteria), in recent years GG production technologies with in vivo systems have also been developed by applying metabolic and bioprocess engineering to a few native or heterologous microbial cell factories. This successfully provides the market GG products with an alternative source. With the further elucidation of details about the biological functions of GGs and related mechanisms, the application scope of GGs will be greatly expanded. In the present review, the biological sources and physiological roles of GGs, the molecular bases and regulation of GG metabolism, and the recent progress in GG production and application are systematically summarized. A few new questions that have arisen in the basic research of GGs and perspectives on GG application are also discussed.

葡萄糖基甘油 (GG) 是一组功能性杂苷，包括甘油和葡萄糖。在自然界中，它们主要由许多中度耐盐蓝藻作为相容溶质以盐依赖性方式产生，并在少数高等植物和发酵过程中合成。由于具有低甜度、低吸湿性、高持水性、优异的生物相容性、良好的大分子保护性能和抗肿瘤活性等许多有趣的理化性质和生物活性，GGs在化妆品、健康等领域具有巨大的应用潜力。保健、食品服务、酶生产和药品。许多体外已经建立了使用 GH（糖苷水解酶）家族不同成员的系统用于酶促合成 GG，其中一些用于商业生产。基于对微生物（主要是蓝藻）GG代谢的遗传基础、生化过程和调控机制的深入了解，近年来GG生产技术与体内还通过将代谢和生物过程工程应用于一些天然或异源微生物细胞工厂来开发系统。这成功地为市场上的GG产品提供了替代来源。随着对GGs生物学功能及相关机制细节的进一步阐明，GGs的应用范围将大大扩展。本文系统总结了GGs的生物学来源和生理作用、GG代谢的分子基础和调控机制以及GG的生产和应用的最新进展。还讨论了GGs基础研究中出现的一些新问题和GG应用前景。