Harnessing biocompatible chemistry for developing improved and novel microbial cell factories

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology
• Chemical Engineering
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• White biotechnology utilizes cellular machinery for sustainable compound production.
• Current limitations in white biotechnology include a restricted number of cellular chemical transformations.
• Traditional chemical production often relies on petroleum-based raw materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the application of biocompatible chemistry in white biotechnology.
• To highlight the potential of non-enzymatic reactions under mild conditions for expanding cellular chemical repertoires.
• To discuss the integration of biocompatible chemistry with engineered cell factories.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on biocompatible chemistry in biological systems.
• Analysis of natural examples of biocompatible chemistry (e.g., Fenton chemistry).
• Conceptual framework for integrating biocompatible chemistry into metabolic engineering.

Main Results:

• Biocompatible chemistry provides a method to introduce non-enzymatic reactions into living cells.
• Natural biological systems already employ biocompatible chemistry for various functions.
• Harnessing biocompatible chemistry can overcome limitations in enzymatic pathways.

Conclusions:

• Biocompatible chemistry presents a promising avenue to enhance the capabilities of white biotechnology.
• Integration with metabolically engineered cell factories can lead to cost-effective production of valuable compounds.
• This approach facilitates improved substrate utilization, cell physiology, and novel chemical synthesis.