Biosynthetic Strategies for Exploiting Natural Products: Recent Advances and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products, derived from both microbial and plant sources, represent a cornerstone of drug discovery. However, their translation into clinical or industrial applications is frequently hindered by challenges such as low native yields, complex supply chains, and a limited chemical space for optimization. In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in this field, driven by the integration of genomics, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology. By directly decoding the genetic blueprints of biosynthesis, we can transition from simply discovering molecules to actively engineering their production and diversity. This Special Issue aims to highlight pioneering research that systematically addresses these challenges through advanced biosynthetic strategies. The step of pathway elucidation is critical, as it lays a foundation for subsequent engineering efforts. We seek studies that demonstrate a clear trajectory from genetic insight to functional application, moving beyond observation to deliberate creation. This includes employing genome mining to reveal novel biosynthetic potential, utilizing heterologous expression to establish robust production platforms, and applying combinatorial and metabolic engineering to generate novel and optimized chemical entities.

We welcome the submission of original research and review articles that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Advanced genome and metagenome mining for novel biosynthetic gene clusters;
• Heterologous expression systems and pathway refactoring;
• Enzyme engineering and mechanistic studies of key biosynthetic transformations;
• Combinatorial biosynthesis for the creation of “unnatural” natural products;
• Metabolic engineering for scalable and sustainable production.

Prof. Dr. Zhihua Liao
Prof. Dr. Guanglei Ma
Guest Editors

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