Genetic manipulation of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases to generate novel bioactive peptide products

Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) are large modular enzymes that govern the synthesis of numerous biotechnologically relevant products. Their mode of action is frequently compared to an assembly line, in which each module acts in a semi-autonomous but coordinated manner to add a specific monomer to a growing peptide chain, unfettered by ribosomal constraints. The modular nature of these systems offers tantalising prospects for synthetic biology, wherein the assembly line is re-engineered at a genetic level to generate a specific or combinatorial modified product. However, despite some success stories, a "one size fits all" approach to NRPS synthetic biology remains elusive. This review examines both rational and random mutagenesis strategies that have been employed to modify NRPS function, in an attempt to highlight key points that should be considered when seeking to re-engineer an NRPS biosynthetic template.