Whole cell engineering by mutagenizing a substantial portion of a starting genome combining mutations and optionally repeating

• US 20050124010A1
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Diversa Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: Diversa Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Fu, Pengcheng, Latterich, Martin, Short, Jay M, Levin, Michael, Wei, Jing
• Application Number:
  US10/398,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124010A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.230
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/102 Mutagenizing nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1027 by DNA shuffling, e.g. RSR, STEP, RPR
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/1058 Directional evolution of libraries, e.g. evolution of libraries is achieved by mutagenesis and screening or selection of mixed population of organisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8241 Phenotypically and genetically modified plants via recombinant DNA technology
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/52 Predicting or monitoring the response to treatment, e.g. for selection of therapy based on assay results in personalised medicine; Prognosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/534 with radioactive label
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6848 Methods of protein analysis involving mass spectrometry

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of cellular and whole organism engineering. Specifically, this invention relates to a cellular transformation, directed evolution, and screening method for creating novel transgenic organisms having desirable properties. Thus in one aspect, this invention relates to a method of generating a transgenic organism, such as a microbe or a plant, having a plurality of traits that are diffenentially activatable.

Claims

1. A method for identifying proteins by differential labeling of peptides, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a sample comprising a polypeptide;

(b) providing a plurality of labeling reagents which differ in molecular mass that can generate differential labeled peptides that do not differ in chromatographic retention properties and do not differ in ionization and detection properties in mass spectrographic analysis, wherein the differences in molecular mass are distinguishable by mass spectrographic analysis;

(c) fragmenting the polypeptide into peptide fragments by enzymatic digestion or by non-enzymatic fragmentation;

(d) contacting the labeling reagents of step (b) with the peptide fragments of step (c), thereby labeling the peptides with the differential labeling reagents;

(e) separating the peptides by chromatography to generate an eluate;

(f) feeding the eluate of step (e) into a mass spectrometer and quantifying the amount of each peptide and generating the sequence of each peptide by use of the mass spectrometer;

(g) inputting the sequence to a computer program product which compares the inputted sequence to a database of polypeptide sequences to identify the polypeptide from which the sequenced peptide originated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample of step (a) comprises a cell or a cell extract.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing two or more samples comprising a polypeptide.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein one sample is derived from a wild type cell and one sample is derived from an abnormal or a modified cell.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the abnormal cell is a cancer cell.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising purifying or fractionating the polypeptide before the fragmenting of step (c).

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising purifying or fractionating the polypeptide before the labeling of step (d).

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising purifying or fractionating the labeled peptide before the chromatography of step (e).

9. The method of claim 6, claim 8 or claim 8, wherein the purifying or fractionating comprises a method selected from the group consisting of size exclusion chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, HPLC, reverse phase HPLC and affinity purification.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting the polypeptide with a labeling reagent of step (b) before the fragmenting of step (c).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the labeling reagent of step (b) comprises the general formulae selected from the group consisting of:

i. Z^AOH and Z^BOH, to esterify peptide C-terminals and/or Glu and Asp side chains;

ii. Z^ANH₂ and Z^BNH₂, to form amide bond with peptide C-terminals and/or Glu and Asp side chains; and

iii. Z^ACO₂H and Z^BCO₂H. to form amide bond with peptide N-terminals and/or Lys and Arg side chains;

wherein Z^A and Z^B independently of one another comprise the general formula R-Z¹-A¹-Z²-A²-Z³-A³-Z⁴-A⁴-,

Z¹, Z², Z³, and Z⁴ independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of nothing, 0, OC(O), OC(S), OC(O)O, OC(O)NR, OC(S)NR, OSiRR¹, S, SC(O), SC(S), SS, S(O), S(O₂), NR, NRR¹⁺, C(O), C(O)O, C(S), C(S)O, C(O)S, C(O)NR, C(S)NR, SiRR¹, (Si(RR¹)O)_n, SnRR¹, Sn(RR¹)O, BR(OR¹), BRR¹, B(OR)(OR¹), OBR(OR¹, OBRR¹, and OB(OR)(OR¹), and R and R¹ is an alkyl group,

A¹, A², A³, and A⁴ independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of nothing or (CRR¹)_n, wherein R, R¹, independently from other R and R¹ in Z¹ to Z⁴ and independently from other R and R¹ in A¹ to A⁴, are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and an alkyl group;

n in Z¹to Z⁴, independent of n in A¹ to A⁴, is an integer having a value selected from the group consisting of 0 to about 51;

0 to about 41;

0 to about 31;

0 to about 21, 0 to about 11 and 0 to about 6.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the alkyl group is selected from the group consisting of an alkenyl, an alkynyl and an aryl group.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein one or more C—

C bonds from (CRR¹)n are replaced with a double or a triple bond,

14. The method of claim 13, wherein an R or an R¹ group is deleted.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein (CRR¹)n is selected from the group consisting of an o-arylene, an m-arylene and a p-arylene, wherein each group has none or up to 6 substituents.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein (CRR¹)n is selected from the group consisting of a carbocyclic, a bicyclic and a tricyclic fragment, wherein the fragment has up to 8 atoms in the cycle with or without a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of an O atom, a N atom and an S atom.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more labeling reagents have the same structure but a different isotope composition.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein Z^A has the same structure as Z^B, but Z^A has a different isotope composition than Z^B.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the isotope is boron-10 and boron-11.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the isotope is carbon-12 and carbon-13.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the isotope is nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the isotope is sulfur-32 and sulfur-34.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein, where the isotope with the lower mass is x and the isotope with the higher mass is y, and x and y are integers, x is greater than y.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein x and y are between 1 and about 11, between 1 and about 21, between 1 and about 31, between 1 and about 41, or between 1 and about 51.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the labeling reagent of step (b) comprises the general formulae selected from the group consisting of:

i. CD₃(CD₂)_nOH/CH₃(CH₂)_nOH, to esterify peptide C-terminals, where n=0, 1, 2 or y;

ii. CD₃(CD₂)_nNH₂ CH₃(CH₂)_nNH₂, to form amide bond with peptide C-terminals, where n=0, 1, 2 or y; and

iii. D(CD₂)_nCO₂H/H(CH₂)_nCO₂H, to form amide bond with peptide N-terminals, where n=0, 1, 2 or y;

wherein D is a deuteron atom, and y is an integer selected from the group consisting of about 51;

about 41;

about 31;

about 21, about 11;

about 6 and between about 5 and 51.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the labeling reagent of step (b) comprises the general formulae selected from the group consisting of:

i. Z^AOH and Z^BOH to esterify peptide C-terminals;

ii. Z^ANH₂/Z^BNH₂ to form an amide bond with peptide C-terminals; and

iii. Z^ACO₂H/Z^BCO₂H to form an amide bond with peptide N-terminals;

wherein Z^A and Z^B have the general formula R-Z¹-A¹-Z²-A²-Z³-A³-Z⁴-A⁴-Z¹, Z², Z³, and Z⁴, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of nothing, 0, OC(O), OC(S), OC(O)O, OC(O)NR, OC(S)NR, OSiRR¹, S, SC(O), SC(S), SS, S(O), S(O₂), NR, NRR¹⁺, C(O), C(O)O, C(S), C(S)O, C(O)S, C(O)NR, C(S)NR, SiRR¹, (Si(RR¹)O)_n, SnRR¹, Sn(RR¹)O, BR(OR¹), BRR¹, B(OR)(OR¹), OBR(OR¹), OBRR¹, and OB(OR)(OR¹);

A¹, A², A³, and A⁴, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of nothing and the general formulae (CRR¹)_n, and,

R and R¹ is an alkyl group.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein a single C—

C bond in a (CRR¹)_n group is replaced with a double or a triple bond.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein R and R¹ are absent.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein (CRR¹.)_n comprises a moiety selected from the group consisting of an o-arylene, an m-arylene and ap-arylene, wherein the group has none or up to 6 substituents.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the group comprises a carbocyclic, a bicyclic, or a tricyclic fragments with up to 8 atoms in the cycle, with or without a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of an O atom, an N atom and an S atom.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein R, R¹, independently from other R and R¹ in Z¹-Z⁴ and independently from other R and R¹ in A¹-A⁴, are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen and an alkyl group.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the alkyl group is selected from the group consisting of an alkenyl, an alkynyl and an aryl group.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein n in Z¹-Z⁴ is independent of n in A¹-A⁴ and is an integer selected from the group consisting of about 51;

about 41;

about 31;

about 21, about 11 and about 6.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein Z^A has the same structure a Z^B but Z^A further comprises x number of —

CH₂—

fragment(s) in one or more A¹-A⁴ fragments, wherein x is an integer.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein Z^A has the same structure a Z^B but Z^A further comprises x number of —

CF₂—

fragment(s) in one or more A¹-A⁴ fragments, wherein x is an integer.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein Z^A comprises x number of protons and Z^B comprises y number of halogens in the place of protons, wherein x and y are integers.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein Z^A contains x number of protons and Z^B contains y number of halogens, and there are x−

y number of protons remaining in one or more A¹-A⁴ fragments, wherein x and y are integers

38. The method of claim 26, wherein Z^A further comprises x number of-O—

fragment(s) in one or more A¹-A⁴ fragments, wherein x is an integer.

39. The method of claim 26, wherein Z^A further comprises x number of —

S—

fragment(s) in one or more A¹-A⁴ fragments, wherein x is an integer.

40. The method of claim 26, wherein Z^A further comprises x number of —

O—

fragment(s) and Z^B further comprises y number of —

S—

fragment(s) in the place of —

O—

fragment(s), wherein x and y are integers.

41. The method of claim 26, wherein Z^A further comprises x−

y number of —

O—

fragment(s) in one or more A¹-A⁴ fragments, wherein x and y are integers.

42. The method of claim 37, claim 40 or claim 41, wherein x and y are integers selected from the group consisting of between 1 about 51;

between 1 about 41;

between 1 about 31;

between 1 about 21, between 1 about 11 and between 1 about 6, wherein x is greater than y.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the labeling reagent of step (b) comprises the general formulae selected from the group consisting of:

i. CH₃(CH₂)_nOH/CH₃(CH₂)_n+mOH, to esterify peptide C-terminals, where n=0, 1, 2, . . . , y;

m=1, 2, . . . y;

ii. CH₃(CH₂)_n NH₂/CH₃(CH₂)_n+mNH₂, to form amide bond with peptide C-terminals, where n=0, 1, 2, . . . , y;

m=1, 2, . . . , y; and

,

iii. H(CH₂)_nCO₂H/H(CH₂)_n+mCO₂H, to form amide bond with peptide N-terminals, where n=0, 1, 2, . . . , y;

m=1, 2, . . . , y;

wherein n, m and y are integers.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein n, m and y are integers selected from the group consisting of about 51;

about 41;

about 31;

about 21, about 11;

about 6 and between about 5 and 51.

45. The method of claim 1, wherein the separating of step (e) comprises a liquid chromatography system.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid chromatography system comprises a multidimensional liquid chromatography.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the mass spectrometer comprises a tandem mass spectrometry device.

48. The method of claim 1, further comprising quantifying the amount of each polypeptide.

49. The method of claim 1, further comprising quantifying the amount of each peptide.

50. A method for defining the expressed proteins associated with a given cellular state, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a sample comprising a cell in the desired cellular state;

(b) providing a plurality of labeling reagents which differ in molecular mass but do not differ in chromatographic retention properties and do not differ in ionization and detection properties in mass spectrographic analysis, wherein the differences in molecular mass are distinguishable by mass spectrographic analysis;

(c) fragmenting polypeptides derived from the cell into peptide fragments by enzymatic digestion or by non-enzymatic fragmentation;

(d) contacting the labeling reagents of step (b) with the peptide fragments of step (c), thereby labeling the peptides with the differential labeling reagents;

(e) separating the peptides by chromatography to generate an eluate;

(f) feeding the eluate of step (e) into a mass spectrometer and quantifying the amount of each peptide and generating the sequence of each peptide by use of the mass spectrometer;

(g) inputting the sequence to a computer program product which compares the inputted sequence to a database of polypeptide sequences to identify the polypeptide from which the sequenced peptide originated, thereby defining the expressed proteins associated with the cellular state.

51. A method for quantifying changes in protein expression between at least two cellular states, the method comprising the following steps:

state;

(b) providing a plurality of labeling reagents which differ in molecular mass but do not differ in chromatographic retention properties and do not differ in ionization and detection properties in mass spectrographic analysis, wherein the differences in molecular mass are distinguishable by mass spectrographic analysis;

(c) fragmenting polypeptides derived from the cells into peptide fragments by enzymatic digestion or by non-enzymatic fragmentation;

(d) contacting the labeling reagents of step (b) with the peptide fragments of step (c), thereby labeling the peptides with the differential labeling reagents, wherein the labels used in one same are different from the labels used in other samples;

(e) separating the peptides by chromatography to generate an eluate;

(f) feeding the eluate of step (e) into a mass spectrometer and quantifying the amount of each peptide and generating the sequence of each peptide by use of the mass spectrometer;

(g) inputting the sequence to a computer program product which identifies from which sample each peptide was derived, compares the inputted sequence to a database of polypeptide sequences to identify the polypeptide from which the sequenced peptide originated, and compares the amount of each polypeptide in each sample, thereby quantifying changes in protein expression between at least two cellular states.

52. A method for identifying proteins by differential labeling of peptides, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a sample comprising a polypeptide;

(b) providing a plurality of labeling reagents which differ in molecular mass but do not differ in chromatographic retention properties and do not differ in ionization and detection properties in mass spectrographic analysis, wherein the differences in molecular mass are distinguishable by mass spectrographic analysis;

(c) fragmenting the polypeptide into peptide fragments by enzymatic digestion or by non-enzymatic fragmentation;

(d) contacting the labeling reagents of step (b) with the peptide fragments of step (c), thereby labeling the peptides with the differential labeling reagents;

(e) separating the peptides by multidimensional liquid chromatography to generate an eluate;

(f) feeding the eluate of step (e) into a tandem mass spectrometer and quantifying the amount of each peptide and generating the sequence of each peptide by use of the mass spectrometer;

(g) inputting the sequence to a computer program product which compares the inputted sequence to a database of polypeptide sequences to identify the polypeptide from which the sequenced peptide originated.

53. A chimeric labeling reagent comprising

(a) a first domain comprising a biotin;

and

(b) a second domain comprising a reactive group capable of covalently binding to an amino acid,

wherein the chimeric labeling reagent comprises at least one isotope.

54. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, wherein the isotope is in the first domain.

55. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 54, wherein the isotope is in the biotin.

56. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, wherein the isotope is in the second domain.

57. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, wherein the isotope is selected from the group consisting of a deuterium isotope, a boron-10 or boron-11 isotope, a carbon-12 or a carbon-13 isotope, a nitrogen-14 or a nitrogen-15 isotope and a sulfur-32 or a sulfur-34 isotope.

58. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53 comprising two or more isotopes.

59. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, wherein the reactive group capable of covalently binding to an amino acid is selected from the group consisting of a succimide group, an isothiocyanate group and an isocyanate group.

60. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, wherein the reactive group capable of covalently binding to an amino acid binds to a lysine or a cysteine.

61. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, further comprising a linker moiety linking the biotin group and the reactive group.

62. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53;

wherein the linker moiety comprises at least one isotope.

63. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, wherein the linker is a cleavable moiety.

64. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, wherein the linker can be cleaved by enzymatic digest.

65. The chimeric labeling reagent of claim 53, wherein the linker can be cleaved by reduction.

66. A method of comparing relative protein concentrations in a sample comprising (a) providing a plurality of differential small molecule tags, wherein the small molecule tags are structurally identical but differ in their isotope composition, and the small molecules comprise reactive groups that covalently bind to cysteine or lysine residues or both;

(b) providing at least two samples comprising polypeptides;

(c) attaching covalently the differential small molecule tags to amino acids of the polypeptides;

(d) determining the protein concentrations of each sample in a tandem mass spectrometer; and

,

(d) comparing relative protein concentrations of each sample.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the sample comprises a complete or a fractionated cellular sample.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein differential small molecule tags comprise a chimeric labeling reagent comprising (a) a first domain comprising a biotin;

and, (b) a second domain comprising a reactive group capable of covalently binding to an amino acid, wherein the chimeric labeling reagent comprises at least one isotope.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the isotope is selected from the group consisting of a deuterium isotope, a boron-10 or boron-lI 1 isotope, a carbon-12 or a carbon-13 isotope, a nitrogen-14 or a nitrogen-15 isotope and a sulfur-32 or a sulfur-34 isotope.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the chimeric labeling reagent comprises two or more isotopes.

71. The method of claim 68, wherein the reactive group capable of covalently binding to an amino acid is selected from the group consisting of a succimide group, an isothiocyanate group and an isocyanate group.

72. A method of comparing relative protein concentrations in a sample comprising (a) providing a plurality of differential small molecule tags, wherein the differential small molecule tags comprise a chimeric labeling reagent comprising (i) a first domain comprising a biotin;

and, (ii) a second domain comprising a reactive group capable of covalently binding to an amino acid, wherein the chimeric labeling reagent comprises at least one isotope;

(b) providing at least two samples comprising polypeptides;

(c) attaching covalently the differential small molecule tags to amino acids of the polypeptides;

(d) isolating the tagged polypeptides on a biotin-binding column by binding tagged polypeptides to the column, washing non-bound materials off the column, and eluting tagged polypeptides off the column;

(e) determining the protein concentrations of each sample in a tandem mass spectrometer; and

,

(f) comparing relative protein concentrations of each sample.

73. A method of producing an improved organism having a desirable trait comprising:

a) obtaining an initial population of organisms, b) generating a set of mutagenized organisms, such that when all the genetic mutations in the set of mutagenized organisms are taken as a whole, there is represented a set of substantial genetic mutations, and c) detecting the presence of said improved organism.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of a knocking out of at least 15 different genes.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of a knocking out of at least 50 different genes.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of a knocking out of at least 100 different genes.

77. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of an introduction of at least 15 different genes.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of an introduction of at least 50 different genes.

79. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of an introduction of at least 100 different genes.

80. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of an alteration in the expression of at least 15 different genes.

81. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of an alteration in the expression of at least 50 different genes.

82. The method of claim 73, wherein the set of substantial genetic mutations in step b) is comprised of an alteration in the expression of at least 100 different genes.

108. A method of claim 73, wherein step c) includes screening cellular characteristics by utilizing one or any combination of the following methods:

q) genomics;

r) transcriptome characterization or RNA profiling;

s) proteomics;

t) metabolomics or the analysis of metabolites;

u) lipidomics or lipid profiling.

109. A method of claim 108, wherein proteomics specifically includes the use of amino acid reactive tags

83. A method of producing an improved organism having a desirable trait comprising:

a) obtaining an initial population of organisms, b) generating a set of mutagenized organisms each having at least one genetic mutation, such that when all the genetic mutations in the set of mutagenized organisms are taken as a whole, there is represented a set of substantial genetic mutations c) detecting the manifestation of at least two genetic mutations, d) introducing at least two detected genetic mutations into one organism, and e) optionally repeating any of steps a), b), c), and d).

84. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of a knocking out of at least 15 different genes in one organism.

85. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of a knocking out of at least 50 different genes in one organism.

86. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of a knocking out of at least 100 different genes in one organism.

87. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of an introduction of at least 15 different genes into one organism.

88. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of an introduction of at least 50 different genes into one organism.

89. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of an introduction of at least 100 different genes into one organism.

90. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of an alteration in the expression of at least 15 different genes in one organism.

91. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of an alteration in the expression of at least 50 different genes in one organism.

92. The method of claim 83, wherein step d) is comprised of an alteration in the expression of at least 100 different genes in one organism.

93. A method for identifying a gene that alters a trait of an organism, comprising:

a) obtaining an initial population of organisms, b) generating a set of mutagenized organisms, such that when all the genetic mutations in the set of mutagenized organisms are taken as a whole, there is represented a set of substantial genetic mutations, and c) detecting the presence an organism having said altered trait, and d) determining the nucleotide sequence of a gene that has been mutagenized in the organism having the altered trait.

110. A method of claim 93, wherein step c) includes screening cellular characteristics by utilizing one or any combination of the following methods:

v) genomics;

w) transcriptome characterization or RNA profiling;

x) proteomics;

y) metabolomics or the analysis of metabolites;

z) lipidomics or lipid profiling.

111. A method of claim 110, wherein proteomics specifically includes the use of amino acid reactive tags

94. A method for producing an organism with an improved trait, comprising:

a) functionally knocking out an enogenous gene in a substantially clonal population of organisms;

b) transferring a library of altered genes into the substantially clonal population of organisms, wherein each altered gene differs from the endogenous gene at only one codon;

c) detecting a mutagenized organism having an improved trait; and

d) determining the nucleotide sequence of an gene that has been transferred into the detected organism.

112. A method of claim 94, wherein step c) includes screening cellular characteristics by utilizing one or any combination of the following methods:

aa) genomics;

bb) transcriptome characterization or RNA profiling;

cc) proteomics;

dd) metabolomics or the analysis of metabolites;

ee) lipidomics or lipid profiling.

113. A method of claim 112, wherein proteomics specifically includes the use of amino acid reactive tags

95. A method of introducing differentially activatable stacked traits into a transgenic cell or organism, which method is comprised of the following steps:

a) obtaining an initial cell or organism;

b) introducing into the working cell or organism a plurality of traits (stacked traits), including selectively and differentially activatable traits, whereby serviceable traits for this purpose include traits conferred by genes and traits conferred by gene pathways;

c) analyzing the information obtained from steps a) and b), and

d) optionally repeating any number or all of the steps of a), b), c), and d);

96. The method of claim 95, wherein step a) also includes holistic monitoring of the strain or organism whereby holistic monitoring can include the detection and/or measurement of all detectable functions and physical parameters (such as but not limited to morphology, behavior, growth, responsiveness to stimuli [e.g., antibiotics, different environment, etc.], and profiles of all detectable molecules, including molecules that are chemically at least in part a nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, or lipids)

97. The method of claim 95, wherein step d) also includes holistic monitoring of the strain or organism whereby holistic monitoring can include the detection and/or measurement of all detectable functions and physical parameters (such as but not limited to morphology, behavior, growth, responsiveness to stimuli [e.g., antibiotics, different environment, etc.], and profiles of all detectable molecules, including molecules that are chemically at least in part a nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, or lipids)

98. The method of claim 95, wherein step a) and d) include holistic monitoring of the strain or organism whereby holistic monitoring can include the detection and/or measurement of all detectable functions and physical parameters (such as but not limited to morphology, behavior, growth, responsiveness to stimuli [e.g., antibiotics, different environment, etc.], and profiles of all detectable molecules, including molecules that are chemically at least in part a nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, or lipids)

99. The method of claim 95, wherein step b) includes the introduction of at least 15 stacked traits

100. The method of claim 95, wherein step b) includes the introduction of at least 50 stacked traits

101. The method of claim 95, wherein step b) includes the introduction of at least 100 stacked traits

102. The method of claim 96, wherein step a) includes screening cellular characteristics by utilizing one or any combination of the following methods:

a) genomics;

b) transcriptome characterization or RNA profiling;

c) proteomics;

d) metabolomics or the analysis of metabolites;

e) lipidomics or lipid profiling.

103. A method of claim 102, wherein proteomics specifically includes the use of amino acid reactive tags

104. A method of claim 97, wherein step d) includes screening cellular characteristics by utilizing one or any combination of the following methods:

f) genomics;

g) transcriptome characterization or RNA profiling;

h) proteomics;

i) metabolomics or the analysis of metabolites;

j) lipidomics or lipid profiling.

105. A method of claim 104, wherein proteomics specifically includes the use of amino acid reactive tags

106. A method of claim 98, wherein steps a) and d) include screening cellular characteristics by utilizing one or any combination of the following methods:

k) genomics;

l) transcriptome characterization or RNA profiling;

m) proteomics;

n) metabolomics or the analysis of metabolites;

o) lipidomics or lipid profiling.

P)

107. A method of claim 106, wherein proteomics specifically includes the use of amino acid reactive tags

114. A method for whole cell engineering of new or modified phenotypes by using real-time metabolic flux analysis, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) making a modified cell by modifying the genetic composition of a cell;

(b) culturing the modified cell to generate a plurality of modified cells;

(c) measuring at least one metabolic parameter of the cell by monitoring the cell culture of step (b) in real time; and

,

(d) analyzing the data of step (c) to determine if the measured parameter differs from a comparable measurement in an unmodified cell under similar conditions, thereby identifyng an engineered phenotype in the cell using real-time metabolic flux analysis.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein the genetic composition of the cell is modified by a method comprising addition of a nucleic acid to the cell.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein the nucleic acid comprises a nucleic acid heterologous to the cell.

117. The method of claim 115, wherein the nucleic acid comprises a nucleic acid homologous to the cell.

118. The method of claim 117, wherein the homologous nucleic acid comprises a modified homologous nucleic acid.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein the homologous nucleic acid comprises a modified homologous gene.

120. The method of claim 114, wherein the genetic composition of the cell is modified by a method comprising deletion of a sequence or modification of a sequence in the cell.

121. The method of claim 114, wherein the genetic composition of the cell is modified by a method comprising modifying or knocking out the expression of a gene.

122. The method of claim 114, further comprising selecting a cell comprising a newly engineered phenotype.

123. The method of claim 122, further comprising culturing the selected cell, thereby generating a new cell strain comprising a newly engineered phenotype.

124. The method of claim 122, wherein the newly engineered phenotype is selected from the group consisting of an increased or decreased expression or amount of a polypeptide, an increased or decreased amount of an mRNA transcript, an increased or decreased expression of a gene, an increased or decreased resistance or sensitivity to a toxin, an increased or decreased resistance use or production of a metabolite, an increased or decreased uptake of a compound by the cell, an increased or decreased rate of metabolism, and an increased or decreased growth rate.

125. The method of claim 114, further comprising isolating a cell comprising a newly engineered phenotype.

126. The method of claim 114, wherein the newly engineered phenotype is a stable phenotype.

127. The method of claim 126, wherein modifying the genetic composition of a cell comprises insertion of a construct into the cell, wherein construct comprises a nucleic acid operably linked to a constitutively active promoter.

128. The method of claim 114, wherein the newly engineered phenotype is an inducible phenotype.

129. The method of claim 128, wherein modifying the genetic composition of a cell comprises insertion of a construct into the cell, wherein construct comprises a nucleic acid operably linked to an inducible promoter.

130. The method of claim 115, wherein nucleic acid added to the cell in step (a) is stably inserted into the genome of the cell.

131. The method of claim 115, wherein nucleic acid added to the cell in step (a) propagates as an episome in the cell.

132. The method of claim 115, wherein nucleic acid added to the cell in step (a) encodes a polypeptide.

133. The method of claim 132, wherein the polypeptide comprises a modified homologous polypeptide.

134. The method of claim 132, wherein the polypeptide comprises a heterologous polypeptide.

135. The method of claim 115, wherein the nucleic acid added to the cell in step (a) encodes a transcript comprising a sequence that is antisense to a homologous transcript.

136. The method of claim 114, wherein modifying the genetic composition of the cell in step (a) comprises increasing or decreasing the expression of an mRNA transcript.

137. The method of claim 114, wherein modifying the genetic composition of the cell in step (a) comprises increasing or decreasing the expression of a polypeptide.

138. The method of claim 114, wherein modifying the homologous gene in step (a) comprises knocking out expression of the homologous gene.

139. The method of claim 114, wherein modifying the homologous gene in step (a) comprises increasing the expression of the homologous gene.

140. The method of claim 114, wherein the heterologous gene in step (a) comprises a sequence-modified homologous gene, wherein the sequence modification is made by a method comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a template polynucleotide, wherein the template polynucleotide comprises a homologous gene of the cell;

(b) providing a plurality of oligonucleotides, wherein each oligonucleotide comprises a sequence homologous to the template polynucleotide, thereby targeting a specific sequence of the template polynucleotide, and a sequence that is a variant of the homologous gene;

(c) generating progeny polynucleotides comprising non-stochastic sequence variations by replicating the template polynucleotide of step (a) with the oligonucleotides of step (b), thereby generating polynucleotides comprising homologous gene sequence variations.

141. The method of claim 114, wherein the heterologous gene in step (a) comprises a sequence-modified homologous gene, wherein the sequence modification is made by a method comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a template polynucleotide, wherein the template polynucleotide comprises sequence encoding a homologous gene;

(b) providing a plurality of building block polynucleotides, wherein the building block polynucleotides are designed to cross-over reassemble with the template polynucleotide at a predetermined sequence, and a building block polynucleotide comprises a sequence that is a variant of the homologous gene and a sequence homologous to the template polynucleotide flanking the variant sequence;

(c) combining a building block polynucleotide with a template polynucleotide such that the building block polynucleotide cross-over reassembles with the template polynucleotide to generate polynucleotides comprising homologous gene sequence variations.

142. The method of claim 114, wherein the cell is a prokaryotic cell.

143. The method of claim 142, wherein the prokaryotic cell is a bacterial cell.

144. The method of claim 114, wherein the cell is a selected from the group consisting of a fungal cell, a yeast cell, a plant cell and an insect cell.

145. The method of claim 114, wherein the cell is a eukaryotic cell.

146. The method of claim 145, wherein the cell is a mammalian cell.

147. The method of claim 146, wherein the mammalian cell is a human cell.

148. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises rate of cell growth.

149. The method of claim 148, wherein the rate of cell growth is measured by a change in optical density of the culture.

150. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises a change in the expression of a polypeptide.

151. The method of claim 150, wherein the change in the expression of the polypeptide is measured by a method selected from the group consisting of a one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, a tandem mass spectography, an RIA, an ELISA, an immunoprecipitation and a Western blot.

152. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises a change in expression of at least one transcript, or, the expression of a transcript of a newly introduced gene.

153. The method of claim 152, wherein the change in expression of the transcript is measured by a method selected from the group consisting of a hybridization, a quantitative amplification and a Northern blot.

154. The method of claim 153, wherein transcript expression is measured by hybridization of a sample comprising transcripts of a cell or nucleic acid representative of or complementary to transcripts of a cell by hybridization to immobilized nucleic acids on an array.

155. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises an increase or a decrease in a secondary metabolite.

156. The method of claim 155, wherein secondary metabolite is selected from the group consisting of a glycerol and a methanol.

157. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises an increase or a decrease in an organic acid.

158. The method of claim 157, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of an acetate, a butyrate, a succinate and an oxaloacetate.

159. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises an increase or a decrease in intracellular pH.

160. The method of claim 159, wherein the increase or a decrease in intracellular pH is measured by intracellular application of a dye, and the change in fluorescence of the dye is measured over time.

161. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises an increase or a decrease in synthesis of DNA over time.

162. The method of claim 161, wherein the increase or a decrease in synthesis of DNA over time is measured by intracellular application of a dye, and the change in fluorescence of the dye is measured over time.

163. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises an increase or a decrease in uptake of a composition.

164. The method of claim 163, wherein the composition is a metabolite.

165. The method of claim 164, wherein the metabolite is selected from the group consisting of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, a polysaccharide, a lipid, a nucleic acid, an amino acid and a polypeptide.

166. The method of claim 165, wherein the saccharide, disaccharide or polysaccharide comprises a glucose or a sucrose.

167. The method of claim 163, wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic, a metal, a steroid and an antibody.

168. The method of claim 114, wherein the measured metabolic parameter comprises an increase or a decrease in the secretion of a byproduct or a secreted composition of a cell.

169. The method of claim 168, wherein the byproduct or secreted composition is selected from the group consisting of a toxin, a lymphokine, a polysaccharide, a lipid, a nucleic acid, an amino acid, a polypeptide and an antibody.

170. The method of claim 114, wherein the real time monitoring simultaneously measures a plurality of metabolic parameters.

171. The method of claim 170, wherein real time monitoring of a plurality of metabolic parameters comprises use of a Cell Growth Monitor device.

172. The method of claim 171, wherein the Cell Growth Monitor device is a Wedgewood Technology, Inc., Cell Growth Monitor model 652.

173. The method of claim 171, wherein the real time simultaneous monitoring measures uptake of substrates, levels of intracellular organic acids and levels of intracellular amino acids.

174. The method of claim 171, wherein the real time simultaneous monitoring measures:

uptake of glucose;

levels of acetate, butyrate, succinate or oxaloacetate; and

, levels of intracellular natural amino acids.

175. The method of claim 171, further comprising use of a computer-implemented program to real time monitor the change in measured metabolic parameters over time.

176. The method of claim 175, wherein the computer-implemented program comprises a computer-implemented method as set forth in FIG. 28.

177. The method of claim 176, wherein the computer-implemented method comprises metabolic network equations.

178. The method of claim 176, wherein the computer-implemented method comprises a pathway analysis.

179. The method of claim 176, wherein the computer-implemented program comprises a preprocessing unit to filter out the errors for the measurement before the metabolic flux analysis.