Microbial Dynamic Regulatory Tools: Design, Applications, and Prospects

Establishing efficient microbial cell factories for the production of functional nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and chemical products requires precise regulation to adapt key enzymes and pathway modules. Dynamic regulatory strategies are a promising and effective approach to achieve balanced cell growth and metabolite production. Dynamic regulatory tools, as the executors of regulatory strategies, usually require rationally designed modification strategies to provide libraries of tools with reliable quality. Here, typical dynamic regulatory tools at the DNA level (transcriptional level), the RNA level (post-transcriptional and translational level), and the protein level (post-translational) are presented. The regulatory mechanisms and design modification strategies of each tool are highlighted. Subsequently, strategies for applying regulatory tools to construct dynamic regulatory networks of metabolic pathways are summarized. Finally, the limitations of current dynamic regulatory tools are discussed and future trends are outlooked.