PRECURSOR CONVERSION SCREENING METHODS

摘要

The invention provides methods of identifying a host cell that encodes a metabolic pathway that converts a precursor molecule into a growth inhibitory compound, by: (a) culturing a population of host cells under conditions that allow expression of the metabolic pathway; (b) contacting the host cells, or an extract thereof, with a population of target cells and the precursor molecule; and (c) identifying a host cell that inhibits growth of the target cells in the presence, but not in the absence, of the precursor molecule, where an identified host cell from step (c) contains a metabolic pathway that converts the precursor molecule into a growth inhibitory compound. Methods of identifying host cells that encode a metabolic pathway that converts a precursor molecule into a desired product compound are also provided. Further provided are methods of identifying nucleic acid molecules encoding the metabolic pathways.