Abstract

Tools and tactics for engineering natural product biosynthesis that are emerging in molecular biology.

Author(s): Tina Guzman

Natural products and their derivatives play an important role in drug discovery and have inspired the development of various synthetic bioactive molecules. Numerous engineering methods and strategies have been developed as a result of recent developments in molecular biology to speed natural product production in both academic and industry contexts. However, several barriers to natural product biosynthesis remain. For example, native routes are unsuitable for study or production; essential enzymes are insufficiently active; and native hosts are unsuitable for high-level production. Emerging molecular biology technologies and strategies have been created to increase natural product titers while also producing novel bioactive molecules.