Metabolic Engineering of Methanotrophs for the Production of Chemicals and Fuels

Abstract

Methane is a promising next-generation carbon feedstockFeedstockfor industrial biotechnologyBiotechnologybecause it is inexpensive and abundant carbon. Biological conversionBiological conversionof methane to valuable products can reduce greenhouse gasGreenhouse gas(GHG) emissions caused by methane. Recently, genetic manipulationGenetic manipulationtechniques and systems biologySystems biologyhas provided new opportunities for metabolic engineeringMetabolic engineeringof methanotrophsMethanotrophsand engineered strains have been employed as potential industrial strains for methane gas fermentationFermentation. For commercialization of the production of chemicals and fuels from methane, methanotrophsMethanotrophsneed to be further engineered based on rational metabolic engineeringMetabolic engineeringstrategy to enhance carbon conversion yield, titer, and productivity. In this chapter, recent advances on metabolic engineeringMetabolic engineeringof methanotrophsMethanotrophs, including genetic toolGenetic tooldevelopment, strategy to enhance carbon pool for product conversion, practical example of methane bioconversionBioconversion, and prospect on the engineered methanotrophic cellsMethanotrophic cellsas a cell-factory platformCell-factory platformare discussed.