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Improvement of FK506 production by synthetic biology approaches

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Abstract

Synthetic biology has been applied to direct improvement of valuable metabolite productions. Tacrolimus (FK506), a clinically used immunosuppressive agent isolated from many Streptomyces, is produced by fermentation in industry. Here we chose FK506 as an example to review recent progress in improving FK506 production, including enhancing transcription levels of biosynthetic genes, accelerating post-translational modification levels of biosynthetic enzymes, increasing activities of rate limiting enzymes, and rational supplement of limited precursors. FK506 production was increased from 25 % to sevenfold by these synthetic biology approaches.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (LR16H300001) and National Natural Science Foundation (31670008). We thank Dr. Yue–Yue Wang from School of Life Sciences, Fudan University and Miss Hong-Dou Luo from College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University for helpful discussions during the preparation of the manuscript.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, 310011, Zhejiang, China

      Li-Feng Fu & Mei-Ying Jin

    2. College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China

      Yang Tao & Hui Jiang

    Authors
    1. Li-Feng Fu
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    2. Yang Tao
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    3. Mei-Ying Jin
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    4. Hui Jiang
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Hui Jiang.

    Additional information

    Li-Feng Fu and Yang Tao have contributed equally to this work.

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    Fu, LF., Tao, Y., Jin, MY. et al. Improvement of FK506 production by synthetic biology approaches. Biotechnol Lett 38, 2015–2021 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-016-2202-4

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