Cited by 675Microbial Metabolic Engineering and BioproductionPlant biochemistry and biosynthesisMicrobial Natural Products and Biosynthesis

Semi-synthetic artemisinin: a model for the use of synthetic biology in pharmaceutical development

Paddon, Chris J., Keasling, Jay D.·2014·Nature Reviews Microbiology

Abstract

Recent developments in synthetic biology, combined with continued progress in systems biology and metabolic engineering, have enabled the engineering of microorganisms to produce heterologous molecules in a manner that was previously unfeasible. The successful synthesis and recent entry of semi-synthetic artemisinin into commercial production is the first demonstration of the potential of synthetic biology for the development and production of pharmaceutical agents. In this Review, we describe the metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches that were used to develop this important antimalarial drug precursor. This not only demonstrates the incredible potential of the available technologies but also illuminates how lessons learned from this work could be applied to the production of other pharmaceutical agents.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrmicro3240

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Authors
Paddon, C. J., & Keasling, J. D.
Affiliations
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
Keasling, Jay D.
Venue
Nature Reviews Microbiology
Published
2014-04-01
Volume
12
Issue
5
Pages
355-367
ISSN
  • 1740-1526 (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-1534
OpenAlex
W2006137883
Cited by
675
References
109
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 72 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 53 · 2016: 87 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 19
FWCI
6.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Sanofi
  • National Research Council Canada
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
Keywords
metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, heterologous production, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, antimalarial drugs, pharmaceutical manufacturing
MeSH terms
Antimalarials, Biotechnology, Escherichia coli, Genetic Engineering, Plants, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drug Design, Artemisinins, Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology, Metabolic Engineering

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