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Metabolic flux analysis and metabolic engineering for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production

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Metabolic engineering provides a more sustainable alternative by using complex metabolic processes to generate valuable compounds by exploiting nature's metabolic networks. Metabolic flux analysis is frequently used in metabolic engineering to improve production yields and selectivity of compounds including biofuels, medicines, and industrial chemicals. It analyzes metabolic pathways and flux distribution to identify essential steps and targets for optimization, mainly to increase biopolymer synthesis, including polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). PHB is a significant carbon reservoir due to its capacity to store carbon in a biodegradable polymer form in sectors such as packaging, biomedicine, and environmental remediation, making it an economically and environmentally friendly substitute to existing nonrenewable resources. Metabolic flux analysis and metabolic engineering are essential in synthesizing PHB, a biodegradable polymer with several uses. By combining these techniques, researchers can enhance efficiency, boost yields, and develop microorganisms with improved PHB synthesis capabilities. Metabolic flux analysis can identify rate-limiting steps in the PHB biosynthesis pathway and evaluate flux distribution, enabling the identification of metabolic engineering targets that may increase PHB production. Metabolic engineering may also increase the expression of PHB biosynthesis genes or add new genes to the pathway. The study analyzed here examines the significance of combining metabolic flux analysis and metabolic engineering, as well as their potential to considerably increase PHB production and improve the economic feasibility of this key biopolymer.

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  1. Bhargavi Subramanian and Souvik Basak have equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India

    Bhargavi Subramanian, Souvik Basak, Rithanya Thirumurugan & Lilly M. Saleena

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BS involved in sourcing data and writing of manuscript. SB involved in sourcing data and writing of manuscript. RT involved in writing of manuscript. LMS involved in designing the manuscript, reviewing the manuscript, and sourcing of data.

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Subramanian, B., Basak, S., Thirumurugan, R. et al. Metabolic flux analysis and metabolic engineering for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production. Polym. Bull. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-024-05215-y

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