Systems Biology and Experimental Assessment of Enzyme-Substrate Interactions for Enhanced Phytase Production from Wheat Bran by Escherichia coli

Abstract

Phytase production using low-cost agro-residues such as wheat bran offers sustainable solutions for industrial enzyme manufacturing. This study employs a systems biology guided framework combined with fermentation experimentation to enhance phytase production in Escherichia coli. Metabolic network reconstruction and pathway analysis were conducted to identify regulatory nodes influencing enzyme synthesis and secretion. Gene-level interaction mapping and flux balance modeling were incorporated to predict metabolic bottlenecks under wheat bran-based fermentation conditions. Experimental strategies were structured to evaluate biomass growth kinetics and phytase activity under optimized environmental parameters. Additionally, computational enzyme-substrate docking was performed to examine catalytic site interactions and substrate binding orientation. The integrated systems and experimental approach aim to establish a rational optimization strategy for improving phytase yield and catalytic efficiency. This study contributes to industrial enzyme engineering through data-driven metabolic regulation and sustainable substrate utilization.