As an efficient and promising protein engineering strategy, directed evolution includes the construction of mutant libraries and screening of desirable mutants. A rapid and high-throughput screening method has played a critical role in the successful application of directed evolution strategy. We reviewed several high-throughput screening tools which have great potential to be applied in directed evolution. The development of powerful high-throughput screening tools will make great contributions to the advancement of protein engineering.
Directed Molecular Evolution ; methods ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; methods ; Mutant Proteins ; genetics ; Protein Engineering ; methods

Lignocellulose is the most abundant natural biomass. Bioconversion of lignocelluloses becomes a bottleneck for biorefinery, because of its complex structures and heterogeneous composition. Besides screening or engineering approach for single free enzymes with improved properties, an alternative approach is to study synergistic pattern with hydrolysis systems or mimic natural cellulosome for better performance in cellulolytic substrate degradation. Besides, bacterial co-cultures provide another synergistic cellulolytic system. Engineered strains with modified metabolic network could facilitate consolidated bioprocess by increasing yields as well as reducing costs.
Bacteria ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biomass ; Cellulase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cellulosomes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzymes ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Lignin ; metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways