New approaches to the synthesis of secondary metabolites

Other mutations which modify the specificity of some of the enzymes responsible for the metabolic net should allow the flux of metabolites to be focused into a single pathway, rather than being diffused through the whole net. This should increase the yields of a few of the metabolites at the expense of some others, making their isolation from the fermentation easier. The result would be similar to the effect of the manipulation of the pathway for lysine biosynthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Unfortunately the actual enzymes which are responsible for the synthesis of many secondary metabolites have not yet been identified. 

Such directed transfers are now possible between some organisms if the necessary enzymes are known. Once they are purified their amino-acid sequence can be established, and from it the genes which control their synthesis can be identified and isolated. With luck the analysis of mutant strains may even allow the genes to be isolated without the need to purify the enzymes. The genes can then be transferred from one organism to the other and are usually carried by some genetic vector such as a plasmid. 

---