Production of methionine by various microorganisms is reviewed. The prospects of methionine production by submerged cultivation in comparison to other existing methods are examined. The metabolic regulation of methionine synthesis in several microorganisms in relation to difficulties of obtaining high-yield strains is presented in detail. An exhaustive survey of microorganisms that have been used to produce methionine, media compositions and analytical methods has been recorded. Details of reactor studies and metabolic flux analysis studies for methionine production have also been included. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Inc.