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Perspectives in Metabolic Engineering: Understanding Cellular Regulation Towards the Control of Metabolic Routes

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology volume 169, pages 55–65 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Metabolic engineering seeks to redirect metabolic pathways through the modification of specific biochemical reactions or the introduction of new ones with the use of recombinant technology. Many of the chemicals synthesized via introduction of product-specific enzymes or the reconstruction of entire metabolic pathways into engineered hosts that can sustain production and can synthesize high yields of the desired product as yields of natural product-derived compounds are frequently low, and chemical processes can be both energy and material expensive; current endeavors have focused on using biologically derived processes as alternatives to chemical synthesis. Such economically favorable manufacturing processes pursue goals related to sustainable development and “green chemistry”. Metabolic engineering is a multidisciplinary approach, involving chemical engineering, molecular biology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry. Recent advances in molecular biology, genome-scale models, theoretical understanding, and kinetic modeling has increased interest in using metabolic engineering to redirect metabolic fluxes for industrial and therapeutic purposes. The use of metabolic engineering has increased the productivity of industrially pertinent small molecules, alcohol-based biofuels, and biodiesel. Here, we highlight developments in the practical and theoretical strategies and technologies available for the metabolic engineering of simple systems and address current limitations.

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Affiliations

  1. David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Sohila Zadran

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Raphael D. Levine

  3. Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Raphael D. Levine

  4. Crump Institute of Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Raphael D. Levine

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  1. Sohila Zadran
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Correspondence to Sohila Zadran.

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Zadran, S., Levine, R.D. Perspectives in Metabolic Engineering: Understanding Cellular Regulation Towards the Control of Metabolic Routes. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 169, 55–65 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9951-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9951-x

Keywords

  • Metabolomics
  • Bioengineering
  • Bioenergetics
  • Gene networks
  • Metabolic flux analysis