Combinatorial optimization of synthetic operons for the microbial production of p-coumaryl alcohol with Escherichia coli.

Background: Microbes are extensively engineered to produce compounds of biotechnological or pharmaceutical interest. However, functional integration of synthetic pathways into the respective host cell metabolism and optimization of heterologous gene expression for achieving high product titers is still a challenging task. In this manuscript, we describe the optimization of a tetracistronic operon for the microbial production of the plant-derived phenylpropanoid p-coumaryl alcohol in Escherichia coli.