Recent advances in applying cell-free systems for high-value and complex natural product biosynthesis. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ji, Xiangyang; Liu, Wan-Qiu; Li, Jian
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in microbiology. Volume 67(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-5274

Abstract

Highlights: Cell-free systems enable total biosynthesis of complex natural products. Cell-free systems are robust to express long biosynthetic gene clusters (>10 kb). Cell-free reactions allow for easy optimization and enhanced production. Cell-free platforms are powerful for rapidly screening and generating new natural products and analogs. Abstract : Natural products have complex chemical structures and exhibit diverse bioactivities. To harness these high-value natural compounds, robust approaches are required for their rapid and sustainable production. Recently, cell-free systems as one promising solution have been applied to produce natural products by reconstitution of their entire biosynthetic pathways in vitro . Here, we highlight recent advances in cell-free biosynthesis of natural products and discuss future challenges and opportunities. We envision that cell-free technology holds tremendous potential for natural product research such as high-throughput screening of peptide-based natural product analogs/variants, expression of toxic metabolic pathways, characterization of enzyme functions, and activation of silent biosynthetic gene clusters.