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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
12:54
Operation of a Benchtop Bioreactor
Published on: September 12, 2013
Industrial systems biology.
José Manuel Otero1, Jens Nielsen
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|November 6, 2009
Summary
Metabolic engineering enhances microbial production of sustainable fuels and chemicals. Systems biology tools, including omics and modeling, optimize these biotechnological processes for economic viability.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Metabolic Engineering
- Systems Biology
Background:
- The chemical industry seeks sustainable production methods for fuels, chemicals, and materials.
- Microorganisms offer diverse metabolic pathways for bioprocesses, but often require performance enhancement.
- Low yields and productivities hinder the economic viability of microbial production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the history and application of systems biology tools in industrial biotechnology.
- To define the emerging field of industrial systems biology.
- To highlight metabolic engineering as a key technology for improving microbial performance.
Main Methods:
- Metabolic engineering strategies including gene insertion/deletion and deregulation.
- Application of 'omics' technologies: transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, fluxome.
- Utilization of advanced mathematical modeling, such as genome-scale metabolic modeling.
Main Results:
- Metabolic engineering optimizes microbial metabolism for efficient conversion of raw materials to products.
- Systems biology approaches accelerate the identification of optimal metabolic engineering strategies.
- Integration of omics data and modeling drives innovation in industrial biotechnology.
Conclusions:
- Industrial biotechnology increasingly relies on metabolic engineering and systems biology.
- Systems biology provides essential tools for designing and optimizing microbial cell factories.
- The convergence of these fields establishes 'industrial systems biology' for sustainable chemical production.
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