This document discusses recombinant protein production in E. coli and challenges related to inhibitory byproducts like acetate. It summarizes that (1) acetate accumulation reduces protein expression yields and quality by interfering with processes like disulfide bond formation, (2) introducing a heterologous acetolactate synthase enzyme redirects carbon flux from acetate production toward less harmful byproducts like butanediol, and (3) this metabolic engineering approach maintained acetate levels below 20mM and increased recombinant beta-galactosidase expression yields by 50% for batch and 220% for fed-batch cultivations.