Integrated Metabolic Pathway Engineering for Biocatalysis

Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology have developed rapidly in recent years. One of the most important applications is metabolic pathway engineering. By building cell factories, products with high added value can be produced. Metabolic channel engineering is to connect metabolic networks to developed strains; Metabolic pathway engineered studies often require the introduction of multiple genes from one or more different organisms, either by enhancing various endogenous and exogenous metabolic pathways or by directly introducing genes borrowed from other host organisms to achieve a high yield production of products. Metabolic pathway engineering research has essential application value in many fields, such as chemical synthesis, medicine, agriculture, and the environment. Several teams have reconstituted and optimized the biosynthetic pathways of compounds such as paclitaxel and artemisinin in E. coli, and Large-scale industrialization has been achieved through functional verification of metabolic pathways and optimization of host selection.

Creative Enzyme has rich experience in metabolic pathway research, biosynthesis, and strain modification. Based on our professional scientist teams and advanced technical equipment, we can provide integrated services of metabolic pathway engineering to fully meet the needs of customers.

Background: Metabolic Pathway Engineering as a Cornerstone of Modern Biocatalysis

Metabolic pathway engineering leverages advances in synthetic biology, genome sequencing, and computational modeling to redesign cellular metabolism for industrial applications. It enables the construction of "cell factories" that convert raw materials into high-value products—pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, bio-based materials, and specialty metabolites—under mild, sustainable conditions.

This approach often requires introducing or optimizing multiple genes, enhancing native pathways, or incorporating heterologous genes to improve flux and yield. Pathway engineering is widely applied across chemical synthesis, medicine, agriculture, and environmental biotechnology. Notable successes include the microbial production of paclitaxel and artemisinin, demonstrating both laboratory feasibility and industrial scalability.

Figure 1. Metabolic engineering strategies at different levels. (Miralpeix et al., 2013)

From Native Pathways to Engineered Cell Factories

Natural metabolic pathways prioritize survival, not production, often limiting flux toward desired products and creating competition for essential resources. Metabolic pathway engineering addresses these limitations by reprogramming metabolism at multiple levels: transcription, translation, enzyme activity, and pathway architecture.

The main challenge is balancing product yield with cell viability. Excessive flux can deplete cofactors, overburden protein synthesis, or generate toxic intermediates. Achieving optimal performance requires a systems-level approach combining metabolic modeling, experimental data, and iterative optimization.

What We Offer: Comprehensive Metabolic Pathway Engineering Services

Creative Enzymes has extensive experience in metabolic pathway research, biosynthesis, and strain modification. Supported by a multidisciplinary team of professional scientists and advanced technical infrastructure, we provide integrated metabolic pathway engineering services tailored to the specific needs of our customers.

Core Service Offerings

• Multi-modular optimization

The Multi-modular optimization divides the enzymes in the metabolic pathway into several modules according to the metabolic pathway nodes and the enzymes' catalytic efficiency. Metabolic pathways can be optimized by adjusting these modules at the level of transcription (e.g., promoter, gene copy number), translation (e.g., ribosome binding site), or catalytic properties of enzymes. This method is a simple, efficient, general optimization tool for metabolic pathway engineering.

• Optimization of metabolic pathway scaffolds

Metabolic pathway intermediates may be toxic to the host, consumed by competing pathways, or lost through secretion. The best way to solve this problem is to organize the enzymes in the metabolic pathway into multienzyme complexes. Multi-enzyme complexes need to be realized by synthetic scaffolding technology, which provides a new method for the co-localization of two or more enzymes in the pathway. Proteins, DNA, and RNA, can all be used as scaffolds for forming enzyme complexes, and optimizing the scaffolds for forming enzyme complexes plays an important role in studying metabolic pathway engineering.

• Large-scale gene editing technology

The CRISPR-CAS9 system is also an essential tool in the research of metabolic pathway engineering. By using the modified technology, critical enzymes in the metabolic pathway can be directionally modified without affecting other enzymes in the pathway. High-yielding metabolic strains can be obtained while avoiding the risk of recombination events that alter host behavior and phenotype.

• Metabolic flux analysis

Conventional metabolomics detects static metabolite concentrations, but the static content sometimes does not fully explain the problem. Metabolic flux analysis can calculate the flow direction and distribution of the compound in the metabolic pathway. By analyzing the metabolic flux of the organism, the activity of the specific metabolic pathway of the organism can be obtained. Metabolic pathways and fermentation processes can be optimized through metabolic flux analysis.

• Metabolic pathway library construction

Creative Enzyme has rich experience in library construction. We provide metabolic pathway synthesis services and customized metabolic pathway library assembly services. The library capacity can be customized through various library assembly technologies. High-yielding metabolic pathway strains were obtained by high-throughput screening.

Inquiry

Highlighted Features

• Full coverage of assay techniques and measurement methods
• Joint project teams including biochemists, engineers, and physicists
• Dedicated project manager for seamless communication
• Technical consultation before, during, and after project execution
• Flexible service models tailored to customer needs

Service Workflow

Contact Our Team

Why Choose Us: Advantages in Metabolic Pathway Engineering

Case Studies: Metabolic Pathway Engineering in Action

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Metabolic Pathway Engineering

• Q: When should metabolic pathway engineering be applied?

  A: Metabolic pathway engineering can be applied at any stage of development, from early feasibility assessment—such as pathway selection, host evaluation, or proof-of-concept studies—through strain optimization and industrial scale-up. Introducing pathway engineering early often reduces technical risk and prevents costly redesigns during later development stages.

• Q: Can multiple pathways be engineered simultaneously?

  A: Yes. Multiple pathways can be engineered in parallel, including competing, branching, or coupled pathways. Using modular and systems-level design strategies, we balance metabolic flux, cofactor availability, precursor supply, and regulatory elements to achieve stable and efficient pathway performance.

• Q: Is metabolic flux analysis (MFA) always required?

  A: Metabolic flux analysis is not mandatory for all projects. Simple or low-flux pathways may be optimized empirically. However, for complex networks, high-yield targets, or tightly regulated systems, MFA greatly improves predictability, shortens development timelines, and enables more rational optimization.

• Q: Do you support industrial-scale implementation?

  A: Yes. All pathways are designed with industrial application in mind, emphasizing genetic stability, robustness under process conditions, and compatibility with scale-up and manufacturing requirements.

• Q: How customizable are your services?

  A: Our services are fully customizable. Each project is tailored to your specific target molecule, host organism, performance goals, regulatory considerations, and downstream processing needs.