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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Generic Protocol for Optimization of Heterologous Protein Production Using Automated Microbioreactor Technology

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Published on: December 15, 2017

Toward engineering synthetic microbial metabolism.

George H McArthur¹, Stephen S Fong

¹Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284-3028, USA.

Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology

|December 29, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Synthetic biology advances, including DNA synthesis and design tools, enable better microbial metabolic engineering. Further development is needed for predictable, complex synthetic pathway design and microbial metabolism engineering.

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Area of Science:

Synthetic biology
Microbial metabolic engineering

Background:

Well-characterized biological parts and design principles are foundational for advanced microbial metabolic engineering.
Improvements in de novo DNA synthesis and codon optimization enhance pathway enzyme function.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current state of synthetic biology in microbial metabolic engineering.
To highlight areas for advancement in engineering synthetic microbial metabolism.

Main Methods:

Discussing synthetic biology within a four-stage framework: design, modeling, synthesis, and analysis.
Reviewing advancements in DNA synthesis, codon optimization, and analytical/computational tools.

Main Results:

Current tools facilitate the manufacturing of pathway enzymes with improved or novel functions.
Analytical and computer-aided design tools are accelerating the engineering of synthetic pathways.

Conclusions:

Further development of analytical and design tools is crucial for predictable engineering of biological systems.
Advancements are needed to facilitate true engineering of synthetic microbial metabolism.