Systems metabolic engineering for industrial bioproduction

We have a long-lasting expertise to use natural raw materials for the production of food ingredients and green chemicals. Today, we design and create cell factories for bio-production using systems metabolic engineering. Integrating systems biology and biotechnology with new concepts from synthetic biology, systems metabolic engineering enables the global analysis and engineering of microorganisms and bioprocesses at super efficiency and versatility, otherwise not accessible. Systems metabolic engineering is a major driver and one of the core technologies of global green growth. We use its tools and concepts in collaboration with national and international partners from academia and industry to develop tailor-made strains for the production of fine and bulk chemicals, smart biomaterials, biopolymers and high-value therapeutics.

Research projects

• Corynebacterium glutamicum - the industrial cell factory for chemicals
• From renewable resources to sustainable plastics - Tailored cell factories for the fermentative production of bio-based polymer building blocks
• Bio-based polyamide through fermentation
• Bio2Nylon - Sustainable production of bio-adipic acid as a platform chemical from lignin residues
• LignoValue - LignoValue - Production of bio-polyhydroxyalkanoates from lignin-based aromatics
• iFermenter - Intelligent Cells
• Sustainable bio-production of the platform chemical biosuccinic acid
• MYXO4PUFA - Sustainable production of omega-3 fatty acids based on myxobacterial genes
• MyBio - Streamlined Streptomyces cell factories for bio-based production of polyketides
• REPurpose - Repurposing post-consumer waste into recyclable rubbery plastics
• ePseudomonas - Tunable electro-fermentation using metabolically engineered Pseudomonas putida
• CO2BioTech - FUMBIO - Biotechnological fumarate value chain

Reviews

Weiland F, Kohlstedt M, Wittmann C (2024) Bio-based de-novo synthesis, upcycling, and recycling – the heartbeat towards a green and sustainable PET industry. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol 86:103079. Link.

Weiland F, Kohlstedt M, Wittmann C (2021) Guiding stars to the field of dreams: Metabolically engineered pathways and microbial platforms for a sustainable lignin-based industry. Metab. Eng. 71:13-41. Link.

Wolf S, Becker J, Tsuge Y, Kawaguchi H, Kondo A, Marienhagen J, Bott M, Wendisch VF, Wittmann C (2021) Advances in metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum to produce high-value active ingredients for food, feed, human health, and well-being. Essays Biochem. EBC20200134. Link.

Becker, J, Wittmann, C (2020) Microbial production of extremolytes: high-value active ingredients for nutrition, health care and well-being. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 65:118-128. Link

Poblete-Castro, I, Hoffmann, SL, Becker, J, Wittmann, C (2020) Cascaded valorization of seaweed using microbial cell factories. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 65:102-113. Link

Becker, J, Rohles, CM, Wittmann, C (2018) Metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum for bio-based production of chemicals, fuels, materials, and healthcare products. Metab. Eng. 50:122-141. Link

Becker, J, Wittmann, C (2018) From systems biology to metabolically engineered cells – an omics perspective on the development of industrial microbes. Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 45:180-188. Link

Schwechheimer, SK, Becker, J, Wittmann, C (2018) Towards better understanding of industrial cell factories: novel approaches for ¹³C metabolic flux analysis in complex nutrient environments. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 54:128-137. Link

Becker J, Wittmann C (2016) Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the heterologous production of high value molecules - A veteran at new shores. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 42:178-188. Link

Becker, J, Lange A, Fabarius J, Wittmann C (2015) Top value platform chemicals: Bio-based production of organic acids. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 36:168-175. Link

Becker J, Wittmann C (2015) Advanced Biotechnology: Metabolically engineered cell factories for the bio-based production of chemicals and fuels, materials and health care products. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 54:3328-3350. Link