Overexpression of the methanol dehydrogenase gene mxaF in Methylobacterium sp. MB200 enhances L-serine production.

Abstract

Increase in L-serine production is of interest for industry. Here, we describe ametabolic engineering approach to increase the production of L-serine in a methylotrophic bacterium. mxaF, the gene encoding the large subunit of a methanol dehydrogenase, was cloned from Methylobacterium sp. MB200 through transposon mutagenesis. Deletion of mxaF gene prevented the strain to grow on methanol, suggesting that mxaF is involved in methanol metabolism. Overexpression of mxaF gene in the strain MB200 resulted in a fivefold increase in methanol dehydrogenase activity compared to the wild-type. Resting cell assays showed that the recombinant strain accumulated 6·6mgml(-1) L-serine in 72h with 30mgml(-1) wet cells from 50mgml(-1) glycine and 50mgml(-1) methanol, representing a 1·5-fold increment for L-serine production in contrast to the wild-type strain. These results demonstrate that the potential for improving the production of L-serine can be achieved by overexpressing mxaF gene in methylotrophic bacteria. The amount of L-serine produced each year worldwide is relatively small compared with the amounts of the other amino acids and hence it is in great demand. Here, we describe a metabolic engineering approach to increase the production of L-serine in a methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium sp. MB200. The result demonstrates that raising the output of L-serine can be achieved by overexpressing mxaF gene in methylotrophic bacteria.