Recent Advances in Genetic Engineering Tools for Metabolic Engineering

Abstract

Metabolic engineering has evolved exponentially due to rapid progress in the development of omics (proteomics, lipidomics and glycomics) technology and synthetic biology toolsets. Particularly, omics technologies, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering are interdependent in terms of principles of technology and their biological applications. In this article, we showcase synthetic biology toolsets currently used for the metabolic engineering of microbes and focus on some of the recent advances in the field. Specifically we have elaborated on recent progress in metabolic engineering, the associated synthetic biology toolsets, microbiome metabolic engineering (MME) and the potential industrial metabolic engineering applications. As a case study for the industrial application of metabolic engineering, we have reviewed the use of synthetic biology toolsets to bioengineer microbes and re-engineer their metabolic pathways for customised industrial applications. Some of the examples included in this article are as follows: (a) metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria, (b) metabolic engineering of Bacillus subtilis and (c) metabolic engineering in synthetic yeast for industrial applications. As a future perspective, this chapter presents a case for the broader use of synthetic biology toolsets across metabolic engineering applications.