Nature Reviews Microbiology FOCUS Synthetic biology
来源： 时间：June 17, 2014, 12:36 a.m.http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/focus/synbio/index.html
Since its inception almost 15 years ago, synthetic biology has evolved into a vibrant and productive field, owing in large part to the use of model microorganisms for the design, creation and implementation of both simple and more sophisticated biological systems. This Focus issue ofNature Reviews Microbiology presents a set of specially commissioned articles that together chart the technological and cultural developments of the field, provide a framework for the use of emerging synthetic devices for microbial engineering, discuss the use of alternative microorganisms for industrial-scale applications and describe the first successful 'real-world' application that has been achieved. The Focus issue is accompanied by a joint Web Special with Nature Methods and Nature which can be accessed from the following link:http://www.nature.com/synbio.
Editorial
Milestones in synthetic (micro)biology
doi:10.1038/nrmicro3261
Nature Reviews Microbiology 12, 309 (2014)
This Focus issue highlights the growth of synthetic biology as a vibrant and vigorous scientific discipline that has its roots firmly grounded in microbiology.
Research Highlights
Techniques & applications: RNAi 'off-targets' pathogen infection
Ursula Hofer
doi:10.1038/nrmicro3257
Nature Reviews Microbiology 12, 314–315 (2014)
This study shows that many of the off-target effects that are observed in siRNA screens are specific and depend on the siRNA seed sequence.
Synthetic biology: E. coli reporter gets the inside scoop
Christina Tobin Kåhrström
doi:10.1038/nrmicro3256
Nature Reviews Microbiology 12, 314–315 (2014)
Engineering Escherichia coli with a genetic memory circuit that can sense and report on antibiotic exposure in the mammalian gut.
IN BRIEF
Synthetic biology: Building a designer yeast genome
Christina Tobin Kåhrström
doi:10.1038/nrmicro3264
Nature Reviews Microbiology 12, 313 (2014)
Reviews
A versatile framework for microbial engineering using synthetic noncoding RNAs
Lei S. Qi & Adam P. Arkin
doi:10.1038/nrmicro3244
Nature Reviews Microbiology 12, 341–354 (2014)
Non-coding RNA devices, such as CRISPR–Cas systems, riboswitches and RNA scaffolds, have emerged as a versatile class of genetic regulatory elements that are used in a broad range of synthetic biology applications. In this Review, Arkin and Qi discuss the design, engineering and application of synthetic non-coding RNA devices for microbial engineering.
Semi-synthetic artemisinin: a model for the use of synthetic biology in pharmaceutical development
Chris J. Paddon & Jay D. Keasling
doi:10.1038/nrmicro3240
Nature Reviews Microbiology 12, 355–367 (2014)
Entry of the antimalarial drug precursor semi-synthetic artemisinin into industrial production is the first major milestone for the application of synthetic biology. In this Review, Paddon and Keasling discuss the metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches that were used to engineerEscherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to synthesize a precursor of artemisinin, which should aid the development of other pharmaceutical products.
Biotechnological domestication of pseudomonads through synthetic biology
Pablo I. Nikel, Esteban Martínez-García & Víctor de Lorenzo
doi:10.1038/nrmicro3252
Nature Reviews Microbiology 12, 368–379 (2014)
Much of synthetic biology research makes use of model organisms, such asEscherichia coli. Here, Víctor de Lorenzo and colleagues emphasize the need for a wider choice of model organisms and advocate the use of environmentalPseudomonas strains as model organisms that possess the necessary metabolic traits required to meet current and future synthetic biology and biotechnological needs.
Perspective
A brief history of synthetic biology
D. Ewen Cameron, Caleb J. Bashor & James J. Collins
doi:10.1038/nrmicro3239
Nature Reviews Microbiology 12, 381–390 (2014)
In this Timeline article, Collins and colleagues chart the history of synthetic biology since its inception just over a decade ago, with a focus on both the cultural and scientific progress that has been made as well as on key breakthroughs and areas for future development.
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