Microbial Cells and Enzymes A Century of Progress

Over the last century, microorganisms have been a great source of metabolic and enzymatic diversity. In recent years, emerging recombinant DNA techniques have facilitated the development of new efficient expression systems, modification of biosynthesis pathways leading to different metabolites by metabolic engineering, and enhancement of catalytic properties of enzymes by directed evolution. More exciting advances are still to come as the complete sequencing of industrially important microbial genomes takes place. Functional genomics and proteomics are already major tools used in the search for new molecules and development of higher-producing strains.