Gene Therapy and Metabolic Engineering

Gene therapy involves the introduction of normal, healthy genes into cells to correct the underlying cause of a wide variety of inherited and acquired diseases. Future progress in developing effective clinical protocols involving gene therapy for the treatment of cellular dysfunction associated with disease may incorporate metabolic engineering. Metabolic engineering can be applied to gene therapy for the successful identification of disease genes; elucidation of disease pathways; development of safe and efficient gene-delivery systems; and regulation and control of gene expression. Cystic fibrosis, cancer, and diabetes are reviewed as examples of diseases where gene therapy approaches are being studied.