Building a genome engineering toolbox in nonmodel prokaryotic microbes

Area of Science:

• Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering for sustainable bioeconomy development.
• Microbial engineering for efficient conversion of renewable feedstocks.

Background:

• A sustainable bioeconomy relies on platform organisms that efficiently convert feedstocks like sunlight, CO2, and biomass into biofuels and bioproducts.
• Model microbes like Escherichia coli benefit from advances in DNA technologies, but microbes with desirable traits (photosynthesis, autotrophy, cellulose degradation) lack genetic tools for metabolic engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the need for genetic tools in nonmodel microbes relevant to sustainable bioeconomy.
• To present an overview of design rules for genetic manipulation of prokaryotic microbes.
• To expand the genetic engineering capabilities for novel microbial systems.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing current understanding of genetic manipulation design rules for prokaryotes.
• Compiling available genetic tools for engineering nonmodel microbial systems.

Main Results:

• Identified critical knowledge gaps in genetic tools for microbes with desirable bioeconomy traits.
• Provided an overview of design principles for constructing genetic toolboxes.
• Highlighted the importance of developing these rules for nonmodel systems.

Conclusions:

• Engineering nonmodel microbes is crucial for a sustainable bioeconomy.
• Development of "design rules" and genetic toolboxes is essential for advancing microbial metabolic engineering.
• This work provides a foundation for expanding genetic engineering to a wider range of prokaryotic systems.