Chen Shi-lin, Zhu Xiao-xuan, Li Chun-fang, Wang Yong, Yao Hui, Sun Chao, Song Jing-yuan
Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2012 Aug;47(8):1070-8.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) genomics and TCM synthetic biology are two hot fields in the TCM modernization. TCM genomics, including transcriptomics, structural genomics, genomic markers and functional genomics, aims to elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of TCM bioactive compounds and mine the related genes encoding enzymes involved in these pathways by analyzing genetic information on the original species of TCM, thus promoting the development of TCM synthetic biology, genome-assisted molecular identification and molecular breeding, and elucidation of the genetic mechanism underlying "Daodi". Genomics and related research provide us much deeper understanding of life process and improve our ability to create new life or modify the present organisms. Based on TCM genomics, TCM synthetic biology sets up a series of procedures to realize the production of TCM pharmacological active compounds in microorganism, including screening and modification of parts and devices, establishment of standardized part and device libraries, and reconstruction and modification of the biosynthetic pathway of TCM pharmacological active compounds in microorganism. TCM synthetic biology will provide a new resource of TCM pharmacological active compounds for the pharmacological study and research & development of new drugs, thus enhancing the core competitiveness of our pharmaceutical industry in the international markets.
中药基因组学和中药合成生物学是中药现代化的两个热点领域。中药基因组学包括转录组学、结构基因组学、基因组标记和功能基因组学，旨在通过分析中药原物种的遗传信息，阐明中药活性成分的生物合成途径，挖掘参与这些途径的相关酶编码基因，从而推动中药合成生物学、基因组辅助分子鉴定和分子育种的发展，并阐明“道地”的遗传机制。基因组学及相关研究使我们对生命过程有了更深入的理解，提高了我们创造新生命或改造现有生物体的能力。基于中药基因组学，中药合成生物学建立了一系列程序，以实现微生物中中药药理活性成分的生产，包括部件和装置的筛选与改造、标准化部件和装置库的建立，以及微生物中中药药理活性成分生物合成途径的重构与改造。中药合成生物学将为药理研究和新药研发提供中药药理活性成分的新资源，从而提升我国制药行业在国际市场的核心竞争力。
