Microbial Marvels: Sustainable Chemical Production on the Horizon:

In stride with global concerns surrounding climate change and fossil fuel depletion, science has presented an exciting alternative for sustainable chemical production: microbial cell factories. These factories leverage tiny microbes to produce chemicals, transforming renewable resources into valuable substances.

Game-changing Genome Models:

The research, led by the team of Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee from The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, sheds light on optimal microbial strains and their metabolic engineering strategies. Overcoming the time-consuming process of biological experiments, scientists are turning to genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs). These models reconstruct an organism's metabolic networks—leveraging computer simulations, they analyze metabolic fluxes systematically.

When Microbes Meet Industry:

Proving the efficacy of GEMs, Professor Lee's team studied five industrial microorganisms' production capabilities for 235 bio-based chemicals. One strategy proposed to increase production includes introducing enzyme reactions derived from other organisms and swapping the cofactors microbes use. This initiative has promising implications, with observations of increased production of important chemicals like mevalonic acid and fatty acids.

The Future of Eco-friendly Production:

Given the insights drawn from this study, the research serves as a valuable tool for selecting the most suitable microbial strains, designing effective metabolic pathways, and kick-starting the development of efficient microbial cell factories. These steps are a tremendous leap forward in the realm of eco-friendly chemical production—with the potential to revolutionise the future of biofuels, bioplastics, and even functional food materials.

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