Harnessing microbial heterogeneity for improved biosynthesis fueled by synthetic biology

Yanting Cao; Jianghua Li; Long Liu; Guocheng Du; Yanfeng Liu

Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology (Jan 2025)

Harnessing microbial heterogeneity for improved biosynthesis fueled by synthetic biology

Yanting Cao,
Jianghua Li,
Long Liu,
Guocheng Du,
Yanfeng Liu

Affiliations

Yanting Cao: Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
Jianghua Li: Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
Long Liu: Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
Guocheng Du: Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
Yanfeng Liu: Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 281 – 293

Abstract

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Metabolic engineering-driven microbial cell factories have made great progress in the efficient bioproduction of biochemical and recombinant proteins. However, the low efficiency and robustness of microbial cell factories limit their industrial applications. Harnessing microbial heterogeneity contributes to solving this. In this review, the origins of microbial heterogeneity and its effects on biosynthesis are first summarized. Synthetic biology-driven tools and strategies that can be used to improve biosynthesis by increasing and reducing microbial heterogeneity are then systematically summarized. Next, novel single-cell technologies available for unraveling microbial heterogeneity and facilitating heterogeneity regulation are discussed. Furthermore, a combined workflow of increasing genetic heterogeneity in the strain-building step to help in screening highly productive strains - reducing heterogeneity in the production process to obtain highly robust strains (IHP-RHR) facilitated by single-cell technologies was proposed to obtain highly productive and robust strains by harnessing microbial heterogeneity. Finally, the prospects and future challenges are discussed.

Published in Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology

ISSN: 2405-805X (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Biotechnology; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/synthetic-and-systems-biotechnology/

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