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Sauvageau D, Stein LY, Arenas E, Das S, Iacobelli M, Lawley M, Lazic M, Rondón FL, Weiblen C. Industrializing methanotrophs and other methylotrophic bacteria: from bioengineering to product recovery. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 88:103167. [PMID: 38901110 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Microbes that use the single-carbon substrates methanol and methane offer great promise to bioindustry along with substantial environmental benefits. Methanotrophs and other methylotrophs can be engineered and optimized to produce a wide range of products, from biopolymers to biofuels and beyond. While significant limitations remain, including delivery of single-carbon feedstock to bioreactors, efficient growth, and scale-up, these challenges are being addressed and notable improvements have been rapid. Development of expression chassis, use of genome-scale and regulatory models based on omics data, improvements in bioreactor design and operation, and development of green product recovery schemes are enabling the rapid development of single-carbon bioconversion in the industrial space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Sauvageau
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
| | - Lisa Y Stein
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada.
| | - Elizabeth Arenas
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Shibashis Das
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Maryssa Iacobelli
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Mark Lawley
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Marina Lazic
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Fabián L Rondón
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Cerrise Weiblen
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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2
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Samanta D, Rauniyar S, Saxena P, Sani RK. From genome to evolution: investigating type II methylotrophs using a pangenomic analysis. mSystems 2024; 9:e0024824. [PMID: 38695578 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00248-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive pangenomic approach was employed to analyze the genomes of 75 type II methylotrophs spanning various genera. Our investigation revealed 256 exact core gene families shared by all 75 organisms, emphasizing their crucial role in the survival and adaptability of these organisms. Additionally, we predicted the functionality of 12 hypothetical proteins. The analysis unveiled a diverse array of genes associated with key metabolic pathways, including methane, serine, glyoxylate, and ethylmalonyl-CoA (EMC) metabolic pathways. While all selected organisms possessed essential genes for the serine pathway, Methylooceanibacter marginalis lacked serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), and Methylobacterium variabile exhibited both isozymes of SHMT, suggesting its potential to utilize a broader range of carbon sources. Notably, Methylobrevis sp. displayed a unique serine-glyoxylate transaminase isozyme not found in other organisms. Only nine organisms featured anaplerotic enzymes (isocitrate lyase and malate synthase) for the glyoxylate pathway, with the rest following the EMC pathway. Methylovirgula sp. 4MZ18 stood out by acquiring genes from both glyoxylate and EMC pathways, and Methylocapsa sp. S129 featured an A-form malate synthase, unlike the G-form found in the remaining organisms. Our findings also revealed distinct phylogenetic relationships and clustering patterns among type II methylotrophs, leading to the proposal of a separate genus for Methylovirgula sp. 4M-Z18 and Methylocapsa sp. S129. This pangenomic study unveils remarkable metabolic diversity, unique gene characteristics, and distinct clustering patterns of type II methylotrophs, providing valuable insights for future carbon sequestration and biotechnological applications. IMPORTANCE Methylotrophs have played a significant role in methane-based product production for many years. However, a comprehensive investigation into the diverse genetic architectures across different genera of methylotrophs has been lacking. This study fills this knowledge gap by enhancing our understanding of core hypothetical proteins and unique enzymes involved in methane oxidation, serine, glyoxylate, and ethylmalonyl-CoA pathways. These findings provide a valuable reference for researchers working with other methylotrophic species. Furthermore, this study not only unveils distinctive gene characteristics and phylogenetic relationships but also suggests a reclassification for Methylovirgula sp. 4M-Z18 and Methylocapsa sp. S129 into separate genera due to their unique attributes within their respective genus. Leveraging the synergies among various methylotrophic organisms, the scientific community can potentially optimize metabolite production, increasing the yield of desired end products and overall productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipayan Samanta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- BuG ReMeDEE Consortium, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
| | - Shailabh Rauniyar
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- 2-Dimensional Materials for Biofilm Engineering, Science and Technology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
| | - Priya Saxena
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- Data Driven Material Discovery Center for Bioengineering Innovation, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
| | - Rajesh K Sani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- BuG ReMeDEE Consortium, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- 2-Dimensional Materials for Biofilm Engineering, Science and Technology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
- Data Driven Material Discovery Center for Bioengineering Innovation, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
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3
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Hyun SW, Krishna S, Chau THT, Lee EY. Methanotrophs mediated biogas valorization: Sustainable route to polyhydroxybutyrate production. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 402:130759. [PMID: 38692375 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
This study explores the ability of methanotrophs to convert biogas into biopolymers, addressing H2S as a limitation in the utilization of biogas as a carbon source for bioconversion. Transcriptomic analysis was conducted to understand the growth and changes in the expression patterns of Type I and II methanotrophs under varying H2S concentrations. Results suggested that Type II methanotrophs can possess a native H2S utilization pathway. Both Type I and II methanotrophs were evaluated for their growth and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production from biogas. Methylocystis sp. MJC1 and Methylocystis sp. OK1 exhibited a maximum biomass production of 4.0 and 4.5 gDCW/L, respectively, in fed-batch culture, aligning with the transcriptome data. Furthermore, Methylocystis sp. MJC1 produced 2.9 g PHB/L from biogas through gas fermentation. These findings underscore biogas-based biotechnology as an innovative solution for environmental and industrial challenges with further optimization and productivity enhancement research expected to broaden the potential in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Woon Hyun
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea.
| | - Shyam Krishna
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Tin Hoang Trung Chau
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Yeol Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea.
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Eam H, Ko D, Lee C, Myung J. Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b bioaugmentation unleashes polyhydroxybutyrate-accumulating potential in waste-activated sludge. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:160. [PMID: 38822346 PMCID: PMC11140957 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02442-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wastewater treatment plants contribute approximately 6% of anthropogenic methane emissions. Methanotrophs, capable of converting methane into polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), offer a promising solution for utilizing methane as a carbon source, using activated sludge as a seed culture for PHB production. However, maintaining and enriching PHB-accumulating methanotrophic communities poses challenges. RESULTS This study investigated the potential of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b to bioaugment PHB-accumulating methanotrophic consortium within activated sludge to enhance PHB production. Waste-activated sludges with varying ratios of M. trichosporium OB3b (1:0, 1:1, 1:4, and 0:1) were cultivated. The results revealed substantial growth and methane consumption in waste-activated sludge with M. trichosporium OB3b-amended cultures, particularly in a 1:1 ratio. Enhanced PHB accumulation, reaching 37.1% in the same ratio culture, indicates the dominance of Type II methanotrophs. Quantification of methanotrophs by digital polymerase chain reaction showed gradual increases in Type II methanotrophs, correlating with increased PHB production. However, while initial bioaugmentation of M. trichosporium OB3b was observed, its presence decreased in subsequent cycles, indicating the dominance of other Type II methanotrophs. Microbial community analysis highlighted the successful enrichment of Type II methanotrophs-dominated cultures due to the addition of M. trichosporium OB3b, outcompeting Type I methanotrophs. Methylocystis and Methylophilus spp. were the most abundant in M. trichosporium OB3b-amended cultures. CONCLUSIONS Bioaugmentation strategies, leveraging M. trichosporium OB3b could significantly enhance PHB production and foster the enrichment of PHB-accumulating methanotrophs in activated sludge. These findings contribute to integrating PHB production in wastewater treatment plants, providing a sustainable solution for resource recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyerim Eam
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Dayoung Ko
- Department of Civil, Urban, Earth, and Environmental Engineering, UNIST, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Changsoo Lee
- Department of Civil, Urban, Earth, and Environmental Engineering, UNIST, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaewook Myung
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Xu K, Yan Z, Tao C, Wang F, Zheng X, Ma Y, Sun Y, Zheng Y, Jia Z. A novel bioprospecting strategy via 13C-based high-throughput probing of active methylotrophs inhabiting oil reservoir surface soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171686. [PMID: 38485026 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) have long been considered as a microbial indicator for oil and gas prospecting. However, due to the phylogenetically narrow breath of ecophysiologically distinct MOB, classic culture-dependent approaches could not discriminate MOB population at fine resolution, and accurately reflect the abundance of active MOB in the soil above oil and gas reservoirs. Here, we presented a novel microbial anomaly detection (MAD) strategy to quantitatively identify specific indicator methylotrophs in the surface soils for bioprospecting oil and gas reservoirs by using a combination of 13C-DNA stable isotope probing (SIP), high-throughput sequencing (HTS), quantitative PCR (qPCR) and geostatistical analysis. The Chunguang oilfield of the Junggar Basin was selected as a model system in western China, and type I methanotrophic Methylobacter was most active in the topsoil above the productive oil wells, while type II methanotrophic Methylosinus predominated in the dry well soils, exhibiting clear differences between non- and oil reservoir soils. Similar results were observed by quantification of Methylobacter pmoA genes as a specific bioindicator for the prediction of unknown reservoirs by grid sampling. A microbial anomaly distribution map based on geostatistical analysis further showed that the anomalous zones were highly consistent with petroleum, geological and seismic data, and validated by subsequent drilling. Over seven years, a total of 24 wells have been designed and drilled into the targeted anomaly, and the success rate via the MAD prospecting strategy was 83 %. Our results suggested that molecular techniques are powerful tools for oil and gas prospecting. This study indicates that the exploration efficiency could be significantly improved by integrating multi-disciplinary information in geophysics and geomicrobiology while reducing the drilling risk to a greater extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China; Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214126, China.
| | - Zhengfei Yan
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Cheng Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China; Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214126, China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuying Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China; Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214126, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China; Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214126, China
| | - Yongge Sun
- Department of Earth Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- College of Food and Biological Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Zhongjun Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China; State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China.
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6
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Hong HJ, Hyung JS, Lee J, Na JG. Effects of methane to oxygen ratio on cell growth and polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis in high cell density cultivation of Methylocystis sp. MJC1. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33524-2. [PMID: 38713354 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33524-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production through CH4 conversion by methanotrophs offers a solution for greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste concerns. In this study, we aimed to achieve high cell density cultivation of Methylocystis sp. MJC1 for efficient PHB production. Cultivating MJC1 using CH4 and air (3:7, v/v) yielded a final cell density of 52.9 g/L with a 53.7% (28.4 g/L) PHB content after 210 h, showcasing PHB mass production potential. However, long-term cultivation led to a low volumetric productivity of 0.200 g/L/h. To address this, we conducted cultivation at various O2/CH4 ratios using O2 instead of air, which significantly improved the PHB productivity. Under high O2 conditions (O2/CH4 ratio of 1.5), biomass productivity increased 1.51-fold compared to that under low O2 conditions in the same time frame; however, PHB accumulation was delayed. Using an equal ratio of CH4 and O2 induced active cell growth and selective PHB production, achieving the highest PHB productivity (0.365 g/L/h) with a final cell density of 55.9 g/L and PHB content of 61.7% (34.5 g/L) in 162 h. This study highlighted the significance of the O2/CH4 ratio in CH4 conversion and PHB production by M. sp. MJC1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Jin Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Sung Hyung
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinwon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
- C1 Gas Refinery R&D Center, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Geol Na
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea.
- C1 Gas Refinery R&D Center, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Lim SE, Cho S, Choi Y, Na JG, Lee J. High production of ectoine from methane in genetically engineered Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z by preventing ectoine degradation. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:127. [PMID: 38698430 PMCID: PMC11067125 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02404-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methane is a greenhouse gas with a significant potential to contribute to global warming. The biological conversion of methane to ectoine using methanotrophs represents an environmentally and economically beneficial technology, combining the reduction of methane that would otherwise be combusted and released into the atmosphere with the production of value-added products. RESULTS In this study, high ectoine production was achieved using genetically engineered Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z, a methanotrophic ectoine-producing bacterium, by knocking out doeA, which encodes a putative ectoine hydrolase, resulting in complete inhibition of ectoine degradation. Ectoine was confirmed to be degraded by doeA to N-α-acetyl-L-2,4-diaminobutyrate under nitrogen depletion conditions. Optimal copper and nitrogen concentrations enhanced biomass and ectoine production, respectively. Under optimal fed-batch fermentation conditions, ectoine production proportionate with biomass production was achieved, resulting in 1.0 g/L of ectoine with 16 g/L of biomass. Upon applying a hyperosmotic shock after high-cell-density culture, 1.5 g/L of ectoine was obtained without further cell growth from methane. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests the optimization of a method for the high production of ectoine from methane by preventing ectoine degradation. To our knowledge, the final titer of ectoine obtained by M. alcaliphilum 20ZDP3 was the highest in the ectoine production from methane to date. This is the first study to propose ectoine production from methane applying high cell density culture by preventing ectoine degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Eun Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sukhyeong Cho
- C1 Gas Refinery R&D Center, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yejin Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Geol Na
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinwon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- C1 Gas Refinery R&D Center, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Xu K, Tao C, Gu L, Zheng X, Ma Y, Yan Z, Sun Y, Cai Y, Jia Z. Identifying Active Rather than Total Methanotrophs Inhabiting Surface Soil Is Essential for the Microbial Prospection of Gas Reservoirs. Microorganisms 2024; 12:372. [PMID: 38399776 PMCID: PMC10892661 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) have long been recognized as an important bioindicator for oil and gas exploration. However, due to their physiological and ecological diversity, the distribution of MOB in different habitats varies widely, making it challenging to authentically reflect the abundance of active MOB in the soil above oil and gas reservoirs using conventional methods. Here, we selected the Puguang gas field of the Sichuan Basin in Southwest China as a model system to study the ecological characteristics of methanotrophs using culture-independent molecular techniques. Initially, by comparing the abundance of the pmoA genes determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR), no significant difference was found between gas well and non-gas well soils, indicating that the abundance of total MOB may not necessarily reflect the distribution of the underlying gas reservoirs. 13C-DNA stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) in combination with high-throughput sequencing (HTS) furthermore revealed that type II methanotrophic Methylocystis was the absolutely predominant active MOB in the non-gas-field soils, whereas the niche vacated by Methylocystis was gradually filled with type I RPC-2 (rice paddy cluster-2) and Methylosarcina in the surface soils of gas reservoirs after geoscale acclimation to trace- and continuous-methane supply. The sum of the relative abundance of RPC-2 and Methylosarcina was then used as specific biotic index (BI) in the Puguang gas field. A microbial anomaly distribution map based on the BI values showed that the anomalous zones were highly consistent with geological and geophysical data, and known drilling results. Therefore, the active but not total methanotrophs successfully reflected the microseepage intensity of the underlying active hydrocarbon system, and can be used as an essential quantitative index to determine the existence and distribution of reservoirs. Our results suggest that molecular microbial techniques are powerful tools for oil and gas prospecting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; (C.T.); (L.G.); (X.Z.); (Y.M.)
- SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China
- Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi 214126, China
| | - Cheng Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; (C.T.); (L.G.); (X.Z.); (Y.M.)
- SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China
- Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi 214126, China
| | - Lei Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; (C.T.); (L.G.); (X.Z.); (Y.M.)
- SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China
- Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi 214126, China
| | - Xuying Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; (C.T.); (L.G.); (X.Z.); (Y.M.)
- SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China
- Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi 214126, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing 100083, China; (C.T.); (L.G.); (X.Z.); (Y.M.)
- SINOPEC Key Laboratory of Petroleum Accumulation Mechanisms, Wuxi 214126, China
- Wuxi Research Institute of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Production, SINOPEC, Wuxi 214126, China
| | - Zhengfei Yan
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China;
| | - Yongge Sun
- Department of Earth Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China;
| | - Yuanfeng Cai
- Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China;
| | - Zhongjun Jia
- Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
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9
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Liu R, Wei Z, Dong W, Wang R, Adams JM, Yang L, Krause SMB. Unraveling the impact of lanthanum on methane consuming microbial communities in rice field soils. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1298154. [PMID: 38322316 PMCID: PMC10844099 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1298154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of the lanthanide requiring enzymes in microbes was a significant scientific discovery that opened a whole new avenue of biotechnological research of this important group of metals. However, the ecological impact of lanthanides on microbial communities utilizing methane (CH4) remains largely unexplored. In this study, a laboratory microcosm model experiment was performed using rice field soils with different pH origins (5.76, 7.2, and 8.36) and different concentrations of La3+ in the form of lanthanum chloride (LaCl3). Results clearly showed that CH4 consumption was inhibited by the addition of La3+ but that the response depended on the soil origin and pH. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed the genus Methylobacter, Methylosarcina, and Methylocystis as key players in CH4 consumption under La3+ addition. We suggest that the soil microbiome involved in CH4 consumption can generally tolerate addition of high concentrations of La3+, and adjustments in community composition ensured ecosystem functionality over time. As La3+ concentrations increase, the way that the soil microbiome reacts may not only differ within the same environment but also vary when comparing different environments, underscoring the need for further research into this subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruyan Liu
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziting Wei
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanying Dong
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jonathan M. Adams
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Yang
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sascha M. B. Krause
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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10
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Wang S, Chen X, Li W, Gong W, Wang Z, Cao W. Grazing exclusion alters soil methane flux and methanotrophic and methanogenic communities in alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1293720. [PMID: 38164400 PMCID: PMC10757936 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1293720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Grazing exclusion (GE) is an effective measure for restoring degraded grassland ecosystems. However, the effect of GE on methane (CH4) uptake and production remains unclear in dominant bacterial taxa, main metabolic pathways, and drivers of these pathways. This study aimed to determine CH4 flux in alpine meadow soil using the chamber method. The in situ composition of soil aerobic CH4-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) and CH4-producing archaea (MPA) as well as the relative abundance of their functional genes were analyzed in grazed and nongrazed (6 years) alpine meadows using metagenomic methods. The results revealed that CH4 fluxes in grazed and nongrazed plots were -34.10 and -22.82 μg‧m-2‧h-1, respectively. Overall, 23 and 10 species of Types I and II MOB were identified, respectively. Type II MOB comprised the dominant bacteria involved in CH4 uptake, with Methylocystis constituting the dominant taxa. With regard to MPA, 12 species were identified in grazed meadows and 3 in nongrazed meadows, with Methanobrevibacter constituting the dominant taxa. GE decreased the diversity of MPA but increased the relative abundance of dominated species Methanobrevibacter millerae from 1.47 to 4.69%. The proportions of type I MOB, type II MOB, and MPA that were considerably affected by vegetation and soil factors were 68.42, 21.05, and 10.53%, respectively. Furthermore, the structural equation models revealed that soil factors (available phosphorus, bulk density, and moisture) significantly affected CH4 flux more than vegetation factors (grass species number, grass aboveground biomass, grass root biomass, and litter biomass). CH4 flux was mainly regulated by serine and acetate pathways. The serine pathway was driven by soil factors (0.84, p < 0.001), whereas the acetate pathway was mainly driven by vegetation (-0.39, p < 0.05) and soil factors (0.25, p < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings revealed that alpine meadow soil is a CH4 sink. However, GE reduces the CH4 sink potential by altering vegetation structure and soil properties, especially soil physical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xindong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wen Li
- Key Laboratory of Development of Forage Germplasm in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of Qinghai Province, Qinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine of Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Wenlong Gong
- Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhengwen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenxia Cao
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, College of Pratacultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
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11
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Kim Y, Flinkstrom Z, Candry P, Winkler MKH, Myung J. Resource availability governs polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) accumulation and diversity of methanotrophic enrichments from wetlands. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1210392. [PMID: 37588137 PMCID: PMC10425282 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1210392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aquatic environments account for half of global CH4 emissions, with freshwater wetlands being the most significant contributors. These CH4 fluxes can be partially offset by aerobic CH4 oxidation driven by methanotrophs. Additionally, some methanotrophs can convert CH4 into polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), an energy storage molecule as well as a promising bioplastic polymer. In this study, we investigate how PHA-accumulating methanotrophic communities enriched from wetlands were shaped by varying resource availability (i.e., C and N concentrations) at a fixed C/N ratio. Cell yields, PHA accumulation, and community composition were evaluated in high (20% CH4 and 10 mM NH4 +) and low resource (0.2% CH4 and 0.1 mM NH4 +) conditions simulating engineered and environmental settings, respectively. High resource availability decreased C-based cell yields, while N-based cell yields remained stable, suggesting nutrient exchange patterns differed between methanotrophic communities at different resource concentrations. PHA accumulation was only observed in high resource enrichments, producing approximately 12.6% ± 2.4% (m/m) PHA, while PHA in low resource enrichments remained below detection. High resource enrichments were dominated by Methylocystis methanotrophs, while low resource enrichments remained significantly more diverse and contained only a minor population of methanotrophs. This study demonstrates that resource concentration shapes PHA-accumulating methanotrophic communities. Together, this provides useful information to leverage such communities in engineering settings as well as to begin understanding their role in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Zachary Flinkstrom
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Pieter Candry
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Mari-Karoliina H. Winkler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jaewook Myung
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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12
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Weng C, Peng X, Han Y. From methane to value-added bioproducts: microbial metabolism, enzymes, and metabolic engineering. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2023; 124:119-146. [PMID: 37597946 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Methane is abundant in nature, and excessive emissions will cause the greenhouse effect. Methane is also an ideal carbon and energy feedstock for biosynthesis. In the review, the microorganisms, metabolism, and enzymes for methane utilization, and the advances of conversion to value-added bioproducts were summarized. First, the physiological characteristics, classification, and methane oxidation process of methanotrophs were introduced. The metabolic pathways for methane utilization and key intermediate metabolites of native and synthetic methanotrophs were summarized. Second, the enzymatic properties, crystal structures, and catalytic mechanisms of methane-oxidizing and metabolizing enzymes in methanotrophs were described. Third, challenges and prospects in metabolic pathways and enzymatic catalysis for methane utilization and conversion to value-added bioproducts were discussed. Finally, metabolic engineering of microorganisms for methane biooxidation and bioproducts synthesis based on different pathways were summarized. Understanding the metabolism and challenges of microbial methane utilization will provide insights into possible strategies for efficient methane-based synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihong Weng
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xiaowei Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yejun Han
- National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China; School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
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13
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Mrudulakumari Vasudevan U, Mai DHA, Krishna S, Lee EY. Methanotrophs as a reservoir for bioactive secondary metabolites: Pitfalls, insights and promises. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 63:108097. [PMID: 36634856 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Methanotrophs are potent natural producers of several bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs) including isoprenoids, polymers, peptides, and vitamins. Cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters identified from these microbes via genome mining hinted at the vast and hidden SM biosynthetic potential of these microbes. Central carbon metabolism in methanotrophs offers rare pathway intermediate pools that could be further diversified using advanced synthetic biology tools to produce valuable SMs; for example, plant polyketides, rare carotenoids, and fatty acid-derived SMs. Recent advances in pathway reconstruction and production of isoprenoids, squalene, ectoine, polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer, cadaverine, indigo, and shinorine serve as proof-of-concept. This review provides theoretical guidance for developing methanotrophs as microbial chassis for high-value SMs. We summarize the distinct secondary metabolic potentials of type I and type II methanotrophs, with specific attention to products relevant to biomedical applications. This review also includes native and non-native SMs from methanotrophs, their therapeutic potential, strategies to induce silent biosynthetic gene clusters, and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ushasree Mrudulakumari Vasudevan
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Dung Hoang Anh Mai
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Shyam Krishna
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Yeol Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Le HTQ, Lee EY. Insights into C1 and C3 assimilation pathways in type I methanotrophic bacterium from co-production of 1,2-propanediol and lactate. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 365:128172. [PMID: 36279980 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Methanotrophic bacteria are attractive hosts for mining metabolic pathways of C1 assimilation to produce value-added products. Herein, the type I methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z was employed to explore the carbon flux from methane and methanol via the EMP pathway to produce 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO). The production of 1,2-PDO on methane was found to be mainly restricted by the lower carbon flux toward the EMP pathway. The co-utilization of C1 substrates and glycerol (C3) could contribute to enhance 1,2-PDO. Lactate was co-produced in much higher amounts than 1,2-PDO. This unexpected product was probably derived from lactaldehyde by inherent aldehyde dehydrogenases. The 1,2-PDO production without increased accumulation of lactate was observed via establishing the acetol-based pathway by propane utilization with the overexpression of pmoD. This is the first study to provide experimental insights into the operation of metabolic routes for 1,2-PDO and lactate co-production from C1 and C3 compounds in methanotrophs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa Thi Quynh Le
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Yeol Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering (BK21 FOUR Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Alrashed W, Chandra R, Abbott T, Lee HS. Nitrite reduction using a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) in a hypoxic environment with dilute methane under low pressures. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 841:156757. [PMID: 35718173 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Methane-based membrane biofilm reactors (MBfRs) can be an effective solution for nitrogen control in wastewater, but there is limited information on nitrite reduction for dilute wastewater (e.g., municipal wastewater) in hypoxic MBfRs. This study assessed the impacts of dilute (20 %), low-pressure methane (0.35-2.41 kPa) applied to MBfRs at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 2-12 h on nitrite removals, dissolved methane concentrations, and the resulting changes in the microbial community. High nitrite flux along with rapid and virtually complete (>99 %) nitrite removals were observed at methane pressures of 1.03-2.41 kPa at HRTs above 4 h, despite the use of diluted methane gas for the MBfR. The lowest methane pressure (0.35 kPa) was also able to achieve up to 98 % nitrite removals but required HRTs of up to 12 h. All scenarios had low dissolved methane concentrations (<10 mg/L), indicating that dilute methane at low supply pressures can effectively remove nitrite while meeting dissolved methane guidelines in treated effluent. Methylococcus genus was the key bacterium in MBfR biofilm grown at different HRTs and methane pressures, along with Methylocystis and other heterotrophic denitrifiers (Terrimonas and Hyphomicrobium). This study indicates that methane-based denitrification MBfRs can be a valuable tool to meet nitrogen limits for dilute wastewater coupled to partial nitrification, while limiting the release of methane to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael Alrashed
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Rashmi Chandra
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Timothy Abbott
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Hyung-Sool Lee
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; KENTECH Institute for Environmental and Climate Technology, Korea Institute of Energy Technology, 200 Hyeoksin-ro, Naju, Jeonnam 58330, Republic of Korea.
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16
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Carruthers DN, Lee TS. Translating advances in microbial bioproduction to sustainable biotechnology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:968437. [PMID: 36082166 PMCID: PMC9445250 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.968437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in synthetic biology have radically changed our ability to rewire microorganisms and significantly improved the scalable production of a vast array of drop-in biopolymers and biofuels. The success of a drop-in bioproduct is contingent on market competition with petrochemical analogues and weighted upon relative economic and environmental metrics. While the quantification of comparative trade-offs is critical for accurate process-level decision making, the translation of industrial ecology to synthetic biology is often ambiguous and assessment accuracy has proven challenging. In this review, we explore strategies for evaluating industrial biotechnology through life cycle and techno-economic assessment, then contextualize how recent developments in synthetic biology have improved process viability by expanding feedstock availability and the productivity of microbes. By juxtaposing biological and industrial constraints, we highlight major obstacles between the disparate disciplines that hinder accurate process evaluation. The convergence of these disciplines is crucial in shifting towards carbon neutrality and a circular bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N. Carruthers
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, United States
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Taek Soon Lee
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, United States
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Taek Soon Lee,
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17
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Khanongnuch R, Mangayil R, Santala V, Hestnes AG, Svenning MM, Rissanen AJ. Batch Experiments Demonstrating a Two-Stage Bacterial Process Coupling Methanotrophic and Heterotrophic Bacteria for 1-Alkene Production From Methane. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:874627. [PMID: 35663866 PMCID: PMC9162803 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.874627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane (CH4) is a sustainable carbon feedstock for value-added chemical production in aerobic CH4-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs). Under substrate-limited (e.g., oxygen and nitrogen) conditions, CH4 oxidation results in the production of various short-chain organic acids and platform chemicals. These CH4-derived products could be broadened by utilizing them as feedstocks for heterotrophic bacteria. As a proof of concept, a two-stage system for CH4 abatement and 1-alkene production was developed in this study. Type I and Type II methanotrophs, Methylobacter tundripaludum SV96 and Methylocystis rosea SV97, respectively, were investigated in batch tests under different CH4 and air supplementation schemes. CH4 oxidation under either microaerobic or aerobic conditions induced the production of formate, acetate, succinate, and malate in M. tundripaludum SV96, accounting for 4.8–7.0% of consumed carbon from CH4 (C-CH4), while M. rosea SV97 produced the same compounds except for malate, and with lower efficiency than M. tundripaludum SV96, accounting for 0.7–1.8% of consumed C-CH4. For the first time, this study demonstrated the use of organic acid-rich spent media of methanotrophs cultivating engineered Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 ‘tesA-undA cells for 1-alkene production. The highest yield of 1-undecene was obtained from the spent medium of M. tundripaludum SV96 at 68.9 ± 11.6 μmol mol Csubstrate–1. However, further large-scale studies on fermenters and their optimization are required to increase the production yields of organic acids in methanotrophs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramita Khanongnuch
- Materials Science and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Rahul Mangayil
- Materials Science and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Ville Santala
- Materials Science and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anne Grethe Hestnes
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mette Marianne Svenning
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Antti J Rissanen
- Materials Science and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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18
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Yáñez L, Rodríguez Y, Scott F, Vergara-Fernández A, Muñoz R. Production of (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid from methane by in vivo depolymerization of polyhydroxybutyrate in Methylocystis parvus OBBP. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 353:127141. [PMID: 35405209 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Methylocystis parvus OBBP accumulates polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) using methane as the sole carbon and energy source. In this work, the feasibility of producing (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (R3HBA) via intracellularly accumulated PHB through depolymerization (in-vivo) was investigated. Results showed that a PHB to R3HBA conversion of 77.2 ± 0.9% (R3HBA titer of 0.153 ± 0.002 g L-1) can be attained in a mineral medium containing 1 g L-1 KNO3 at 30 °C with shaking at 200 rpm and a constant pH of 11 for 72 h. Nitrogen deprivation and neutral or acidic pHs strongly reduced the excreted R3HBA concentration. Reduced oxygen availability negatively affected the R3HBA yield, which decreased to 73.6 ± 4.9% (titer of 0.139 ± 0.01 g L-1) under microaerobic conditions. Likewise, the presence of increasing concentrations of R3HBA in the medium before the onset of PHB depolymerization reduced the initial R3HBA release rate and R3HBA yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Yáñez
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Universidad de Valladolid, Doctor Mergelina s/n, 47011, Spain; Green Technology Research Group, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Los Andes, 7550000, Chile.
| | - Yadira Rodríguez
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Universidad de Valladolid, Doctor Mergelina s/n, 47011, Spain.
| | - Felipe Scott
- Green Technology Research Group, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Los Andes, 7550000, Chile.
| | - Alberto Vergara-Fernández
- Green Technology Research Group, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Los Andes, 7550000, Chile.
| | - Raúl Muñoz
- Institute of Sustainable Processes, Universidad de Valladolid, Doctor Mergelina s/n, 47011, Spain.
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19
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Effects of Pig Manure and Its Organic Fertilizer Application on Archaea and Methane Emission in Paddy Fields. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11040499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Paddy fields account for 10% of global CH4 emissions, and the application of manure may increase CH4 emissions. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to investigate the effects of manure application on CH4 emissions and methanogens in paddy soil. Three treatments were studied: a controlled treatment (CK), pig manure (PM), and organic fertilizer (OF). The results showed that the contents of Zn, Cr and Ni in paddy soil increased with the application of manure, but the contents of heavy metals gradually decreased with the growth of rice. The Shannon index and Ace index showed that the application of pig manure and organic fertilizer less affected the diversity and richness of soil Archaea. The results of community composition analysis showed that Methanobacterium, Methanobrevibacter, Methanosphaera, Methanosarcina and Rice_Cluster_I were the main methanogens in paddy soil after manure and organic fertilizer application. Soil environmental factors were changed after applied manure, among which total potassium (TK) and total nitrogen (TN) were the main environmental factors affecting methanogens in paddy soil. The changes of soil environmental factors affected the community composition of methanogens, and the increase of the relative abundance of methanogens maybe the main reason for the increase of CH4 emission flux. The relative abundance of methanogens and CH4 emission flux in paddy soil were increased by both pig manure and organic fertilizer application, and pig manure had a bigger impact than organic manure.
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20
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García JL, Galán B. Integrating greenhouse gas capture and C1 biotechnology: a key challenge for circular economy. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 15:228-239. [PMID: 34905295 PMCID: PMC8719819 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- José L García
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Microbial and Plant Biotechnology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-MS, CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Galán
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Microbial and Plant Biotechnology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-MS, CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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21
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Jo SY, Son J, Sohn YJ, Lim SH, Lee JY, Yoo JI, Park SY, Na JG, Park SJ. A shortcut to carbon-neutral bioplastic production: Recent advances in microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from C1 resources. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 192:978-998. [PMID: 34656544 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.10.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Since the 20th century, plastics that are widely being used in general life and industries are causing enormous plastic waste problems since improperly discarded plastics barely degrade and decompose. Thus, the demand for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), biodegradable polymers with material properties similar to conventional petroleum-based plastics, has been increased so far. The microbial production of PHAs is an environment-friendly solution for the current plastic crisis, however, the carbon sources for the microbial PHA production is a crucial factor to be considered in terms of carbon-neutrality. One‑carbon (C1) resources, such as methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, are greenhouse gases and are abundantly found in nature and industry. C1 resources as the carbon sources for PHA production have a completely closed carbon loop with much advances; i) fast carbon circulation with direct bioconversion process and ii) simple fermentation procedure without sterilization as non-preferable nutrients. This review discusses the biosynthesis of PHAs based on C1 resource utilization by wild-type and metabolically engineered microbial host strains via biorefinery processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seo Young Jo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jina Son
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Jung Sohn
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Hyun Lim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee In Yoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Young Park
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Geol Na
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Si Jae Park
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
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22
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Nguyen TT, Lee EY. Methane-based biosynthesis of 4-hydroxybutyrate and P(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) using engineered Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 335:125263. [PMID: 34020156 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
4-Hydroxybutyric acid (4-HB) is a key platform chemical that serves as a precursor in a wide variety of industrial applications including 1,4-butanediol and bioplastics production. In this study, we reconstructed 4-HB biosynthetic pathway including CoA-dependent succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase and NADPH-dependent succinate semialdehyde reductase in Type II methanotrophs, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, to synthesize 4-HB. These engineered strains were able to synthesize 4-HB from methane via tricarboxylic acid cycle. 4-HB synthesis was further improved to 10.5 mg/L by overexpressing phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase genes in M. trichosporium OB3b. We combined the native poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) metabolic pathway and reconstructed 4-HB biosynthetic pathway to synthesize P(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymer from structurally unrelated substrate methane as a single carbon source. These engineered strains could synthesize P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymer with 3.08 mol% 4-HB from methane. This study provides several engineering strategies to synthesize polyhydroxyalkanoates and their monomers from methane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu Thi Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Engineering (Integrated Engineering), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Yeol Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering (Integrated Engineering), Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Republic of Korea.
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