title: Development of bio-based fine chemical production through synthetic bioengineering.
abstract: Fine chemicals that are physiologically active, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutritional supplements, flavoring agents as well as additives for foods, feed, and fertilizer are produced by enzymatically or through microbial fermentation. The identification of enzymes that catalyze the target reaction makes possible the enzymatic synthesis of the desired fine chemical. The genes encoding these enzymes are then introduced into suitable microbial hosts that are cultured with inexpensive, naturally abundant carbon sources, and other nutrients. Metabolic engineering create efficient microbial cell factories for producing chemicals at higher yields. Molecular genetic techniques are then used to optimize metabolic pathways of genetically and metabolically well-characterized hosts. Synthetic bioengineering represents a novel approach to employ a combination of computer simulation and metabolic analysis to design artificial metabolic pathways suitable for mass production of target chemicals in host strains. In the present review, we summarize recent studies on bio-based fine chemical production and assess the potential of synthetic bioengineering for further improving their productivity.
authors.affiliation: Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan. kiyotaka.hara@dolphin.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kiyotaka Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan. araki@port.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan. okai@port.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okai
authors.affiliation: Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan. wakaists@pegasus.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakai
authors.affiliation: Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, Japan. hasunuma@port.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tomohisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasunuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodaicho, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan. akondo@kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*