Abstract
Methanol, commercially generated from methane, is a renewable chemical feedstock that is highly soluble, relatively inexpensive, and easy to handle. The concept of native methylotrophic bacteria serving as whole cell catalysts for production of chemicals and materials using methanol as a feedstock is highly attractive. In recent years, the available omics data for methylotrophic bacteria, especially for Methylobacterium extorquens, the most well-characterized model methylotroph, have provided a solid platform for rational engineering of methylotrophic bacteria for industrial production. In addition, there is a strong interest in converting the more traditional heterotrophic production platforms toward the use of single carbon substrates, including methanol, through metabolic engineering. In this chapter, we review the recent progress toward achieving the desired growth and production yields from methanol, by genetically engineered native methylotrophic strains and by the engineered synthetic methylotrophs.
Highlights
One goal of metabolic engineering is to develop renewable and sustainable alternatives in production of value-added chemicals
Methylotrophic bacteria are a diverse group of microbes that can use reduced C1 compounds such as methanol and methane as sole sources of both energy and carbon (Chistoserdova et al, 2009; Chistoserdova, 2018)
The availability of whole genome sequences, combined with biochemical studies (Peyraud et al, 2011; Kalyuzhnaya et al, 2013), have provided important insights into their metabolism that are crucial for enabling engineering these types of microorganism for bulk chemical production
Summary
One goal of metabolic engineering is to develop renewable and sustainable alternatives in production of value-added chemicals. It has been shown that significant metabolic flux goes through the serine cycle and the EMC pathway when cells are grown on methanol, generating a stable supply of acetyl-CoA, which could serve as a precursor for the production of value-added chemicals in engineered M. extorquens AM1 strains (Fig. 13.1) (Peyraud et al, 2011; Fu et al, 2016).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
