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Updated: Dec 17, 2025
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In Situ Microscopy for Real-time Determination of Single-cell Morphology in Bioprocesses
Published on: December 5, 2019
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Engineering microbial cell morphology and membrane homeostasis toward industrial applications
Liang Guo1, Zixuan Pang1, Cong Gao1
1State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
Current Opinion in Biotechnology
|June 23, 2020
Summary
Engineering microbial cell factories involves optimizing cell morphology and membrane homeostasis. Controlling cell shape and membrane stability enhances microbe performance, especially in challenging environments.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Synthetic Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Microbial cell factory performance relies on cell morphology and membrane homeostasis.
- Maintaining these factors is crucial for efficient microbial production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in engineering cell morphology and membrane homeostasis.
- To highlight improvements in microbial cell factory performance through these strategies.
Main Methods:
- Discussing regulation of elongasomes and divisomes for cell shape control.
- Examining strategies for maintaining membrane lipid and protein homeostasis.
- Reviewing engineering approaches for microbial robustness.
Main Results:
- Cell morphology can be altered (rods, fibers, spheres, mini-cells) by regulating key cellular structures.
- Membrane homeostasis, including lipid and protein balance, enhances microbial tolerance to toxic conditions.
- Engineering these aspects significantly boosts microbial cell factory efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Targeted engineering of cell morphology and membrane homeostasis is key to improving microbial cell factories.
- These strategies enhance microbe performance and robustness in industrial applications.
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