Bioprocess Optimization By Using Systems Biology

Bioprocess Optimization By Using Systems Biology

Speaker: Manuel Cánovas

Affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B. Faculty of Chemistry. University of Murcia

Host: Paula Alves (ACT Lab)

Abstract:

Systems Biology is a classical field (Bertalanffy and Woodger 1933; Chance et al. 1952; Savageau 1976). However, this field has been recently brought to the centre stage of molecular biology and is expected to have a major impact on the future of biological and medical research. Systems biology aims at a system-level understanding of biological processes through the use of mathematical approaches and computational tools that integrate experimental information. The use of mathematical and computational tools is fundamental for obtaining such a systemic understanding of biological processes because on one hand these processes are often non-linear (which makes linear methodologies not applicable) and on the other the amount of data that is available is so large that one requires automation for an efficient integration and analysis of the different data sets. Furthermore, reliable experimental data concerning gene expression (transcriptome), enzyme and protein involved (enzymome and proteome), metabolite and flux distribution (metabolome and fluxome) and the signalling involved (signallome) in the metabolic networks representing any bioprocess is required for its optimization.

In this talk, the use of techniques and methodologies to advance our understanding of the rules and principles of the dynamic operation of cellular systems for optimizing bioprocesses carried out by prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is presented. As cases of study the use of E. coli for the production of a pharmaceutical compound such as L-carnitine and the use of lymphoma cell lines to study the multi-drug-resistance phenotype are concerned.

References.

·       Bertalanffy LV, Woodger JH. 1933. Modern theories of development; an introduction to theoretical biology. London,: Oxford Univ. Press. 204 p. p.

·       Chance B, Greenstein DS, Higgins J, Yang CC. 1952. The Mechanism of Catalase Action .2. Electric Analog Computer Studies. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 37(2):322-339.

·       Savageau MA. 1976. Biochemical systems analysis : a study of function and design in molecular biology. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley. xvii, 379 p. p.

Short CV:

Prof. Manuel Cánovas obtained his PhD degree in Biochemical Engineering in the University of Swansea (United Kingdom) and in Chemical Sciences in the University of Murcia (Spain).

Since 1985, his professional activity has been linked to the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B of the University of Murcia, as Lecturer (1985-2004) and Professor (2004-present) of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Prof. Cánovas is a member of the Spanish Societies of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (SEB and SEBIOT, respectively), of the European Membrane Society (EMS) and the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB). Along these years his research activities has mainly focused on the design and modelling of reactors for the application of freely suspended and immobilized bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Rhodococcus fascians, Zymomonas mobilis), plant cells (Vitis vinifera) and enzymes for the bioproduction of secondary metabolites, debittering of juices, production of bioethanol, anaerobic digestion and methanogenesis, and L(-)-carnitine metabolism. He has also directed industrial research projects on the induction of sporulation and secondary metabolism of Penicillium sp. and Streptomyces natalensis.

In the last years his research interest has focused on the application of Metabolic Engineering and Systems Biology Tools for the understanding of bioprocesses performed by both bacteria and mammalian cell lines, actively collaborating with other groups in Spain and all over Europe.