Using Base Editors to Modify Industrial Microorganisms: Types, Uses, and Future Possibilities

Base editing technologies enable the direct conversion of nucleotide bases, independent of DNA double-strand breaks.

• Base editors utilize deaminases attached to programmable DNA- or RNA-binding scaffolds for editing.
• Deaminase-free editing strategies are emerging as viable alternatives to traditional methods.
• These technologies facilitate continuous genome evolution and phenotypic diversification in microorganisms.
• Applications include sculpting microbial genomes, redirecting metabolic pathways, and improving stress tolerance.
• Recent advances in in situ bacterial base editing highlight its potential for enhancing industrial strains.
• Current limitations of base editing tools are identified, with proposed strategies for improving their effectiveness.

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