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Crossing boundaries: the importance of cellular membranes in industrial biotechnology

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology volume 44, pages 721–733 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

How small molecules cross cellular membranes is an often overlooked issue in an industrial microbiology and biotechnology context. This is to a large extent governed by the technical difficulties to study these transport systems or by the lack of knowledge on suitable efflux pumps. This review emphasizes the importance of microbial cellular membranes in industrial biotechnology by highlighting successful strategies of membrane engineering towards more resistant and hence better performing microorganisms, as well as transporter and other engineering strategies for increased efflux of primary and secondary metabolites. Furthermore, the benefits and limitations of eukaryotic subcellular compartmentalization are discussed, as well as the biotechnological potential of membrane vesicles.

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Acknowledgements

Sylwia Jezierska received a doctoral (PhD) grant Strategic Basic Research from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Grant Number 151610. The authors wish to thank Barbara Toch for revising the manuscript.

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  1. Laboratory for Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Sylwia Jezierska & Inge N. A. Van Bogaert

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  1. Sylwia Jezierska
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  2. Inge N. A. Van Bogaert
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Correspondence to Inge N. A. Van Bogaert.

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This paper is part of the Special Issue of JIMB dedicated to Arny Demain on the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2017.

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Jezierska, S., Van Bogaert, I.N.A. Crossing boundaries: the importance of cellular membranes in industrial biotechnology. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 44, 721–733 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-016-1858-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-016-1858-z

Keywords

  • Efflux
  • Subcellular compartmentalization
  • Cellular membrane
  • Toxicity
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