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Metabolic engineers in the Bavarian Alps

Nature Biotechnology volume 17, pages 137–138 (1999)Cite this article

At the base of the Wettersteinwand in southern Bavaria, a diverse group of metabolic engineers met to discuss recent progress in the field and to compare notes on modifying biological systems*.

Metabolic engineering spans the division between basic biochemical research and biotechnology development. To modify metabolic processes in commercially valuable organisms, metabolic engineers draw upon expertise in biochemistry, bioprocess engineering, molecular genetics, and complex systems modeling. A singular challenge faced by researchers in this area is the need to communicate across disciplines and to appreciate the role each plays in moving the discipline forward. Although a wide variety of biological systems were discussed, John Yin (University of Wisconsin, Madison) pointed out that a common theme emerging during the conference was that engineers are no longer confined to process development and scale–up in the biotechnology industry; instead, their integrative approaches to cellular processes are having real impacts in the development of new products.

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Figure 1: Introduction of the gene encoding g–tocopherol methyltransferase (TMT) into transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana results in near–quantitative conversion of g–tocopherol to a–tocopherol in the seeds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

    Philip A. Lessard

  2. director of business development, Biosource Genomics, Vacaville, CA

    Mary Callan

  3. vice president genomics, Biosource Genomics, Vacaville, CA

    Guy della–Cioppa

Authors
  1. Philip A. Lessard
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  2. Mary Callan
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  3. Guy della–Cioppa
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Lessard, P., Callan, M. & della–Cioppa, G. Metabolic engineers in the Bavarian Alps. Nat Biotechnol 17, 137–138 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/6138

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