Research

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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology. 

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Revuelta:2018:10.1007/s00253-018-9266-0,
author = {Revuelta, JL and Serrano-Amatriain, C and Ledesma-Amaro, R and Jiménez, A},
doi = {10.1007/s00253-018-9266-0},
journal = {Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology},
pages = {8613--8620},
title = {Formation of folates by microorganisms: towards the biotechnological production of this vitamin},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9266-0},
volume = {102},
year = {2018}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Folates (vitamin B9) are essential micronutrients which function as cofactors in one-carbon transfer reactions involved in the synthesis of nucleotides and amino acids. Folate deficiency is associated with important diseases such as cancer, anemia, cardiovascular diseases, or neural tube defects. Epidemiological data show that folate deficiency is still highly prevalent in many populations. Hence, food fortification with synthetic folic acid (i.e., folic acid supplementation) has become mandatory in many developed countries. However, folate biofortification of staple crops and dairy products as well as folate bioproduction using metabolically engineered microorganisms are promising alternatives to folic acid supplementation. Here, we review the current strategies aimed at overproducing folates in microorganisms, in view to implement an economic feasible process for the biotechnological production of the vitamin.
AU  - Revuelta,JL
AU  - Serrano-Amatriain,C
AU  - Ledesma-Amaro,R
AU  - Jiménez,A
DO  - 10.1007/s00253-018-9266-0
EP  - 8620
PY  - 2018///
SN  - 0175-7598
SP  - 8613
TI  - Formation of folates by microorganisms: towards the biotechnological production of this vitamin
T2  - Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9266-0
UR  - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30073396
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/62900
VL  - 102
ER  -
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