1. Metabolic rewiring for synthetic metabolism

The main challenge to overcome when establishing bio-based processes is to develop cell factories that can produce chemicals at costs that are competitive with fossil-based fuels and chemicals. In order to generate economically feasible bio-based processes, cell factories must be developed around three key performance parameters: titer, rate (productivity), and yield (TRY). Strains can be developed through metabolic rewiring, which is the metabolic reconfiguration in a cell where redox status, bioenergetics and central carbon flux are reprogrammed to support cell proliferation and production of a new chemical.

2. Understanding metabolism for engineering purposes

Within the boundaries of a living cell, several thousand reactions proceed simultaneously to generate building blocks needed for cell growth. Metabolic reactions must be highly regulated to ensure an optimal ratio between different building blocks and a balance between building block- and energy generation and consumption. Although the regulatory mechanisms differ between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, there is a fundamental feature of metabolism shared by all natural living systems or artificial cell factories.

3. Synthetic biology concepts, tools and principles

With current technologies, development of a final strain that can be used for industrial production from a proof-of-principle strain takes several years and is costly. There is a need for new technologies that can shorten the development time and reduce the costs, new synthetic biology concepts that can expand the application areas of metabolic engineering.

Our goal

Our goal is to develop biotechnological solutions to address global challenges in sustainable manufacturing, renewable energy, and food security.