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

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Published on: December 15, 2017

Physiological limitations and opportunities in microbial metabolic engineering.

José Montaño López¹, Lisset Duran², José L Avalos^3,4,5,6

¹Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.

Nature Reviews. Microbiology

|August 3, 2021

Summary

Metabolic engineering uses microbes for sustainable chemical production. Overcoming host physiology challenges is key to achieving commercially viable titres, yields, and productivities for industrial applications.

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Area of Science:

Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Synthetic Biology
Microbial Physiology

Background:

Metabolic engineering offers sustainable solutions for chemical manufacturing and transportation.
Engineered microorganisms are utilized in industrial-scale processes.
Commercial viability is often limited by titres, yields, and productivities.

Purpose of the Study:

To review microbial physiological traits that hinder or enhance metabolic engineering.
To present strategies for overcoming physiological obstacles in microbial chemical production.
To highlight instances where host physiology has been leveraged for improved pathway performance.

Main Methods:

Literature review of metabolic engineering principles.
Analysis of microbial host physiology in relation to engineered pathways.
Case study examples of successful trait harnessing.

Main Results:

Microbial physiology presents significant challenges and opportunities for metabolic engineering.
Specific physiological traits can limit or enhance engineered biosynthetic pathways.
Harnessing natural or engineered traits improves microbial chemical production efficiency.

Conclusions:

Addressing host physiology is critical for advancing metabolic engineering.
Optimizing microbial traits can lead to more sustainable and economically viable bioproduction.
Further research into host-microbe interactions will drive innovation in industrial biotechnology.