KAIST CBE WEBZINE
A comprehensive metabolic map for production of bio-based chemicals established
by Distinguished Prof. Sang Yup Lee's research team

Distinguished Prof. Sang Yup Lee's research team established a comprehensive metabolic map that charts all available strategies and pathways of biological and/or chemical reactions that lead to the production of various industrial chemicals. This metabolic map was established based on the team's high-quality metabolic engineering research for decades and seven years of analyses of all the metabolic engineering data. Metabolic engineering aims at sustainable production of industrial chemicals and materials by using microorganisms as cell factories and renewable nonfood biomass as raw materials for alternative petroleum so as to address limited fossil resources, climate change, and other environmental issues. This comprehensive map presents the current state of achievements of metabolic engineering, and is expected to serve as a blueprint for the visual and intuitive inspection of biological and/or chemical reactions for the chemical production of interest from renewable resources. This work was published in Nature Catalysis (2:18-33, 2019) as a journal cover paper, and the comprehensive metabolic map has been distributed as a poster throughout the world.