[Metabolic engineering in design of cellular elements of biosensors]

An extended definition of the term "metabolic engineering" is given and main spheres of its using in fundamental studies and modern biotechnology are discussed in this article. Emphasis is made on specific using the approaches of metabolic engineering in construction of the cell elements of sensors based on the use of mutant and chemically modified cells of methylotrophic yeasts. This investigation is designed in the laboratory of Biochemical Genetics of the Division of Cell Regulatory Systems, A. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry. Genetic and chemical modifications have allowed to provide some directed changes in cell sensoring output toward methanol, ethanol and formaldehyde that result in enhanced selectivity and shortened time-output of the corresponding potentiometric and amperometric sensors.