Modified bacterial strains are provided. The strains can generate a desired product such as pyruvate and products derived from pyruvate. Methods of generating pyruvate and products derived from pyruvate are also provided. The modified bacterial strains have at least one mutation in a gene coding for proteins in a pyruvate dehydrogenase complex such that the mutation allows a cell to accumulate pyruvate and/or products derived from pyruvate.

The disclosure relates to a metabolic transistor in microbes such as bacteria and yeast where a competitive pathway is introduced to compete with a product pathway for available carbon so as to control the carbon flux in the microbe.

The disclosure relates to a metabolic transistor in microbes such as bacteria and yeast where a competitive pathway is introduced to compete with a product pathway for available carbon so as to control the carbon flux in the microbe.