About this Research Topic
Over the past few years, novel genome engineering tools, i.e. ZFN,TALEN, CRISPR, MAGE and TRMR, have emerged and revolutionized our ability to modify microorganisms for both fundamental studies and biotechnological applications. More specifically, recent advances in genome engineering tools have enabled the assembly of multiple and/or large DNA fragments with high efficiency and fidelity, the optimization of biosynthetic pathways in a combinatorial and high throughput manner, and the evolution of microbial cells at an unprecedented speed and scale. Consequently, microorganisms have been extensively engineered to elucidate the microbial cellular machinery, to produce renewable fuels and chemicals at high titer, yield, and productivity, or to discover novel natural products as potential drugs.
This Research Topic focuses on the recent development and application of novel genome engineering tools, particularly the CRISPR systems, for both model (i.e. E. coli and S. cerevisiae) and non-model (i.e. P. pastoris and Clostridium species) microorganisms .Therefore, the proposed Research Topic is aimed to collect original research articles, short communications, reviews, mini-reviews, methods and perspectives at the leading edge of the microbial genome engineering field. As previously discussed, it is hoped that further advancements in this field of research will enable:
1. Efficient assembly and editing of big gene clusters and discovery of novel secondary metabolites (natural products)
2. Assembly and integration of multi-gene biosynthetic pathways
3. Multiplex and combinatorial genome engineering tools for the optimization of microbial cell factories
4. Genome-scale engineering for functional genomics and evolution of complex phenotypes
This Research Topic focuses on the recent development and application of novel genome engineering tools, particularly the CRISPR systems, for both model (i.e. E. coli and S. cerevisiae) and non-model (i.e. P. pastoris and Clostridium species) microorganisms .Therefore, the proposed Research Topic is aimed to collect original research articles, short communications, reviews, mini-reviews, methods and perspectives at the leading edge of the microbial genome engineering field. As previously discussed, it is hoped that further advancements in this field of research will enable:
1. Efficient assembly and editing of big gene clusters and discovery of novel secondary metabolites (natural products)
2. Assembly and integration of multi-gene biosynthetic pathways
3. Multiplex and combinatorial genome engineering tools for the optimization of microbial cell factories
4. Genome-scale engineering for functional genomics and evolution of complex phenotypes
Keywords: Genome Engineering, CRISPR, Microbial Biotechnology, Metabolic Engineering, Synthetic Biology
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