Advances in the optimized synthesis of biotechnologically valuable products from bio-engineered microbial cell factories

The constantly arising solicitousness for the environmental impact and the potential limitation of petroleum and gas resources has focused the commercial interest on the development of industrially viable microbial strains with fine-tuned physiological capabilities. Synthetic biology, metabolic and protein engineering have become progressively important and valuable platforms in the development of microbial cellular networks for the generation of various pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food ingredients, and biofuels through the conversion of renewable resources. However, despite the comprehensive optimization of the biosynthetic pathways, the mass concentration and the low production rates represent the major obstacles in the exploration of new production hosts, the synthesis of novel enzymatic catalysts of natural and unnatural reactions, and the development of more effective tools for functional proteomics and genomics. Therefore, innovative synthetic biology research and diversified genome engineering approaches are anticipated to play the principal role in the achievement of engineered microbes with robust phenotypes, higher yields, and productivity. Herein, we thoroughly present the nascent technologies in the advancement of bio-engineered microbial cell factories for the optimized synthesis of biotechnologically valuable products.