Synthetic biology of extremophiles: a new wave of biomanufacturing
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Published on: March 9, 2017
Jian-Wen Ye1, Yi-Na Lin1, Xue-Qing Yi2
1School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Fermentation and Enzyme Engineering, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Research Center of Industrial Enzyme and Green Manufacturing Technology, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Microbial biomanufacturing, powered by the advances of synthetic biology, has attracted growing interest for the production of diverse products. In contrast to conventional microbes, extremophiles have shown better performance for low-cost production owing to their outstanding growth and synthesis capacity under stress conditions, allowing unsterilized fermentation processes. We review increasing numbers of products already manufactured utilizing extremophiles in recent years. In addition, genetic parts, molecular tools, and manipulation approaches for extremophile engineering are also summarized, and challenges and opportunities are predicted for non-conventional chassis. Next-generation industrial biotechnology (NGIB) based on engineered extremophiles promises to simplify biomanufacturing processes and achieve open and continuous fermentation, without sterilization, and utilizing low-cost substrates, making NGIB an attractive green process for sustainable manufacturing.
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