Structure and protein-protein interactions of methanol dehydrogenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

Structure-driven development of a biomimetic rare earth artificial metalloprotein

The 2011 discovery of the first rare earth-dependent enzyme in methylotrophic Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 prompted intensive research toward understanding the unique chemistry at play in these systems. This enzyme, an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), features a La3+ ion closely associated with redox-active coenzyme pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and is structurally homologous to the Ca2+-dependent ADH from the same organism. AM1 also produces a periplasmic PQQ-binding protein, PqqT, which we have now structurally characterized to 1.46-Å resolution by X-ray diffraction. This crystal structure reveals a Lys residue hydrogen-bonded to PQQ at the site analogously occupied by a Lewis acidic cation in ADH. Accordingly, we prepared K142A- and K142D-PqqT variants to assess the relevance of this site toward metal binding. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments and titrations monitored by UV-Vis absorption and emission spectroscopies support that K142D-PqqT binds tightly (Kd = 0.6 ± 0.2 μM) to La3+ in the presence of bound PQQ and produces spectral signatures consistent with those of ADH enzymes. These spectral signatures are not observed for WT- or K142A-variants or upon addition of Ca2+ to PQQ ⸦ K142D-PqqT. Addition of benzyl alcohol to La3+-bound PQQ ⸦ K142D-PqqT (but not Ca2+-bound PQQ ⸦ K142D-PqqT, or La3+-bound PQQ ⸦ WT-PqqT) produces spectroscopic changes associated with PQQ reduction, and chemical trapping experiments reveal the production of benzaldehyde, supporting ADH activity. By creating a metal binding site that mimics native ADH enzymes, we present a rare earth-dependent artificial metalloenzyme primed for future mechanistic, biocatalytic, and biosensing applications.

Physiological basis for atmospheric methane oxidation and methanotrophic growth on air

Atmospheric methane oxidizing bacteria (atmMOB) constitute the sole biological sink for atmospheric methane. Still, the physiological basis allowing atmMOB to grow on air is not well understood. Here we assess the ability and strategies of seven methanotrophic species to grow with air as sole energy, carbon, and nitrogen source. Four species, including three outside the canonical atmMOB group USCα, enduringly oxidized atmospheric methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen during 12 months of growth on air. These four species exhibited distinct substrate preferences implying the existence of multiple metabolic strategies to grow on air. The estimated energy yields of the atmMOB were substantially lower than previously assumed necessary for cellular maintenance in atmMOB and other aerobic microorganisms. Moreover, the atmMOB also covered their nitrogen requirements from air. During growth on air, the atmMOB decreased investments in biosynthesis while increasing investments in trace gas oxidation. Furthermore, we confirm that a high apparent specific affinity for methane is a key characteristic of atmMOB. Our work shows that atmMOB grow on the trace concentrations of methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen present in air and outlines the metabolic strategies that enable atmMOB to mitigate greenhouse gases.

The thin line between monooxygenases and peroxygenases. P450s, UPOs, MMOs, and LPMOs: A brick to bridge fields of expertise

Many scientific fields, although driven by similar purposes and dealing with similar technologies, often appear so isolated and far from each other that even the vocabularies to describe the very same phenomenon might differ. Concerning the vast field of biocatalysis, a special role is played by those redox enzymes that employ oxygen-based chemistry to unlock transformations otherwise possible only with metal-based catalysts. As such, greener chemical synthesis methods and environmentally-driven biotechnological approaches were enabled over the last decades by the use of several enzymes and ultimately resulted in the first industrial applications. Among what can be called today the environmental biorefinery sector, biomass transformation, greenhouse gas reduction, bio-gas/fuels production, bioremediation, as well as bulk or fine chemicals and even pharmaceuticals manufacturing are all examples of fields in which successful prototypes have been demonstrated employing redox enzymes. In this review we decided to focus on the most prominent enzymes (MMOs, LPMO, P450 and UPO) capable of overcoming the ∼100 kcal mol-1 barrier of inactivated CH bonds for the oxyfunctionalization of organic compounds. Harnessing the enormous potential that lies within these enzymes is of extreme value to develop sustainable industrial schemes and it is still deeply coveted by many within the aforementioned fields of application. Hence, the ambitious scope of this account is to bridge the current cutting-edge knowledge gathered upon each enzyme. By creating a broad comparison, scientists belonging to the different fields may find inspiration and might overcome obstacles already solved by the others. This work is organised in three major parts: a first section will be serving as an introduction to each one of the enzymes regarding their structural and activity diversity, whereas a second one will be encompassing the mechanistic aspects of their catalysis. In this regard, the machineries that lead to analogous catalytic outcomes are depicted, highlighting the major differences and similarities. Finally, a third section will be focusing on the elements that allow the oxyfunctionalization chemistry to occur by delivering redox equivalents to the enzyme by the action of diverse redox partners. Redox partners are often overlooked in comparison to the catalytic counterparts, yet they represent fundamental elements to better understand and further develop practical applications based on mono- and peroxygenases.

Direct Methane Oxidation by Copper- and Iron-Dependent Methane Monooxygenases

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change and is primarily regulated in Nature by methanotrophic bacteria, which consume methane gas as their source of energy and carbon, first by oxidizing it to methanol. The direct oxidation of methane to methanol is a chemically difficult transformation, accomplished in methanotrophs by complex methane monooxygenase (MMO) enzyme systems. These enzymes use iron or copper metallocofactors and have been the subject of detailed investigation. While the structure, function, and active site architecture of the copper-dependent particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) have been investigated extensively, its putative quaternary interactions, regulation, requisite cofactors, and mechanism remain enigmatic. The iron-dependent soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) has been characterized biochemically, structurally, spectroscopically, and, for the most part, mechanistically. Here, we review the history of MMO research, focusing on recent developments and providing an outlook for future directions of the field. Engineered biological catalysis systems and bioinspired synthetic catalysts may continue to emerge along with a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of biological methane oxidation. Harnessing the power of these enzymes will necessitate combined efforts in biochemistry, structural biology, inorganic chemistry, microbiology, computational biology, and engineering.

From methane to value-added bioproducts: microbial metabolism, enzymes, and metabolic engineering

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.

High Cell-Density Cultivation of Methylococcus capsulatus Bath for Efficient Methane-Derived Mevalonate Production

The engineered Methylococcus capsulatus Bath presents a promising approach for converting methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into valuable chemicals. High cell-density culture (HCDC) is necessary for high-titer growth-associated bioproducts, but it often requires time-consuming and labor-intensive optimization processes. In this study, we aimed to achieve efficient HCDC of M. capsulatus Bath by measuring the residual nutrient levels during bioreactor operations and analyzing the specific uptake of each medium component. By controlling the concentrations of nutrients, particularly calcium and phosphorus via intermittent feeding, we achieved a high cell density of 28.2 g DCW/L and a significantly elevated production of mevalonate at a concentration of 1.8 g/L from methane. Our findings demonstrate that the methanotroph HCDC approach presented herein offers a promising strategy for promoting sustainable development, with an exceptional g-scale production titer for value-added synthetic biochemicals.

Structure and activity of particulate methane monooxygenase arrays in methanotrophs

Methane-oxidizing bacteria play a central role in greenhouse gas mitigation and have potential applications in biomanufacturing. Their primary metabolic enzyme, particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO), is housed in copper-induced intracytoplasmic membranes (ICMs), of which the function and biogenesis are not known. We show by serial cryo-focused ion beam (cryoFIB) milling/scanning electron microscope (SEM) volume imaging and lamellae-based cellular cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) that these ICMs are derived from the inner cell membrane. The pMMO trimer, resolved by cryoET and subtomogram averaging to 4.8 Å in the ICM, forms higher-order hexagonal arrays in intact cells. Array formation correlates with increased enzymatic activity, highlighting the importance of studying the enzyme in its native environment. These findings also demonstrate the power of cryoET to structurally characterize native membrane enzymes in the cellular context.

Metal(loid) speciation and transformation by aerobic methanotrophs

Manufacturing and resource industries are the key drivers for economic growth with a huge environmental cost (e.g. discharge of industrial effluents and post-mining substrates). Pollutants from waste streams, either organic or inorganic (e.g. heavy metals), are prone to interact with their physical environment that not only affects the ecosystem health but also the livelihood of local communities. Unlike organic pollutants, heavy metals or trace metals (e.g. chromium, mercury) are non-biodegradable, bioaccumulate through food-web interactions and are likely to have a long-term impact on ecosystem health. Microorganisms provide varied ecosystem services including climate regulation, purification of groundwater, rehabilitation of contaminated sites by detoxifying pollutants. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of methanotrophs, a group of bacteria that can use methane as a sole carbon and energy source, to transform toxic metal (loids) such as chromium, mercury and selenium. In this review, we synthesise recent advances in the role of essential metals (e.g. copper) for methanotroph activity, uptake mechanisms alongside their potential to transform toxic heavy metal (loids). Case studies are presented on chromium, selenium and mercury pollution from the tanneries, coal burning and artisanal gold mining, respectively, which are particular problems in the developing economy that we propose may be suitable for remediation by methanotrophs. Video Abstract.

Bioinorganic insights of the PQQ-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases

Among the several alcohol dehydrogenases, PQQ-dependent enzymes are mainly found in the α, β, and γ-proteobacteria. These proteins are classified into three main groups. Type I ADHs are localized in the periplasm and contain one Ca2+-PQQ moiety, being the methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) the most representative. In recent years, several lanthanide-dependent MDHs have been discovered exploding the understanding of the natural role of lanthanide ions. Type II ADHs are localized in the periplasm and possess one Ca2+-PQQ moiety and one heme c group. Finally, type III ADHs are complexes of two or three subunits localized in the cytoplasmic membrane and possess one Ca2+-PQQ moiety and four heme c groups, and in one of these proteins, an additional [2Fe-2S] cluster has been discovered recently. From the bioinorganic point of view, PQQ-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases have been revived recently mainly due to the discovery of the lanthanide-dependent enzymes. Here, we review the three types of PQQ-dependent ADHs with special focus on their structural features and electron transfer processes. The PQQ-Alcohol dehydrogenases are classified into three main groups. Type I and type II ADHs are located in the periplasm, while type III ADHs are in the cytoplasmic membrane. ADH-I have a Ca-PQQ or a Ln-PQQ, ADH-II a Ca-PQQ and one heme-c and ADH-III a Ca-PQQ and four hemes-c. This review focuses on their structural features and electron transfer processes.

Switching Between Methanol Accumulation and Cell Growth by Expression Control of Methanol Dehydrogenase in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b Mutant

Methanotrophs have been used to convert methane to methanol at ambient temperature and pressure. In order to accumulate methanol using methanotrophs, methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) must be downregulated as it consumes methanol. Here, we describe a methanol production system wherein MDH expression is controlled by using methanotroph mutants. We used the MxaF knockout mutant of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. It could only grow with MDH (XoxF) which has a cerium ion in its active site and is only expressed by bacteria in media containing cerium ions. In the presence of 0 μM copper ion and 25 μM cerium ion, the mutant grew normally. Under conditions conducive to methanol production (10 μM copper ion and 0 μM cerium ion), cell growth was inhibited and methanol accumulated (2.6 μmol·mg⁻¹ dry cell weight·h⁻¹). The conversion efficiency of the accumulated methanol to the total amount of methane added to the reaction system was ~0.3%. The aforementioned conditions were repeatedly alternated by modulating the metal ion composition of the bacterial growth medium.

Biochemistry of aerobic biological methane oxidation

Methanotrophic bacteria represent a potential route to methane utilization and mitigation of methane emissions. In the first step of their metabolic pathway, aerobic methanotrophs use methane monooxygenases (MMOs) to activate methane, oxidizing it to methanol. There are two types of MMOs: a particulate, membrane-bound enzyme (pMMO) and a soluble, cytoplasmic enzyme (sMMO). The two MMOs are completely unrelated, with different architectures, metal cofactors, and mechanisms. The more prevalent of the two, pMMO, is copper-dependent, but the identity of its copper active site remains unclear. By contrast, sMMO uses a diiron active site, the catalytic cycle of which is well understood. Here we review the current state of knowledge for both MMOs, with an emphasis on recent developments and emerging hypotheses. In addition, we discuss obstacles to developing expression systems, which are needed to address outstanding questions and to facilitate future protein engineering efforts.

Mechanism of Pyrroloquinoline Quinone-Dependent Hydride Transfer Chemistry from Spectroscopic and High-Resolution X-ray Structural Studies of the Methanol Dehydrogenase from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

The active site of methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) contains a rare disulfide bridge between adjacent cysteine residues. As a vicinal disulfide, the structure is highly strained, suggesting it might work together with the pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) prosthetic group and the Ca²⁺ ion in the catalytic turnover during methanol (CH₃OH) oxidation. We purify MDH from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) with the disulfide bridge broken into two thiols. Spectroscopic and high-resolution X-ray crystallographic studies of this form of MDH indicate that the disulfide bridge is redox active. We observe an internal redox process within the holo-MDH that produces a disulfide radical anion concomitant with a companion PQQ radical, as evidenced by an optical absorption at 408 nm and a magnetically dipolar-coupled biradical in the EPR spectrum. These observations are corroborated by electron-density changes between the two cysteine sulfurs of the disulfide bridge as well as between the bound Ca²⁺ ion and the O5-C5 bond of the PQQ in the high-resolution X-ray structure. On the basis of these findings, we propose a mechanism for the controlled redistribution of the two electrons during hydride transfer from the CH₃OH in the alcohol oxidation without formation of the reduced PQQ ethenediol, a biradical mechanism that allows for possible recovery of the hydride for transfer to an external NAD⁺ oxidant in the regeneration of the PQQ cofactor for multiple catalytic turnovers. In support of this mechanism, a steady-state level of the disulfide radical anion is observed during turnover of the MDH in the presence of CH₃OH and NAD⁺.

Lanthanide-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases require an essential aspartate residue for metal coordination and enzymatic function

The lanthanide elements (Ln³⁺), those with atomic numbers 57-63 (excluding promethium, Pm³⁺), form a cofactor complex with pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) in bacterial XoxF methanol dehydrogenases (MDHs) and ExaF ethanol dehydrogenases (EDHs), expanding the range of biological elements and opening novel areas of metabolism and ecology. Other MDHs, known as MxaFIs, are related in sequence and structure to these proteins, yet they instead possess a Ca²⁺-PQQ cofactor. An important missing piece of the Ln³⁺ puzzle is defining what features distinguish enzymes that use Ln³⁺-PQQ cofactors from those that do not. Here, using XoxF1 MDH from the model methylotrophic bacterium Methylorubrum extorquens AM1, we investigated the functional importance of a proposed lanthanide-coordinating aspartate residue. We report two crystal structures of XoxF1, one with and another without PQQ, both with La³⁺ bound in the active-site region and coordinated by Asp³²⁰ Using constructs to produce either recombinant XoxF1 or its D320A variant, we show that Asp³²⁰ is needed for in vivo catalytic function, in vitro activity, and La³⁺ coordination. XoxF1 and XoxF1 D320A, when produced in the absence of La³⁺, coordinated Ca²⁺ but exhibited little or no catalytic activity. We also generated the parallel substitution in ExaF to produce ExaF D319S and found that this variant loses the capacity for efficient ethanol oxidation with La³⁺ These results provide evidence that a Ln³⁺-coordinating aspartate is essential for the enzymatic functions of XoxF MDHs and ExaF EDHs, supporting the notion that sequences of these enzymes, and the genes that encode them, are markers for Ln³⁺ metabolism.

Biological pincer complexes

At least two types of pincer complexes are known to exist in biology. A metal-pyrroloquinolone quinone (PQQ) cofactor was first identified in bacterial methanol dehydrogenase, and later also found in selected short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases of other microorganisms. The PQQ-associated metal can be calcium, magnesium, or a rare earth element depending on the enzyme sequence. Synthesis of this organic ligand requires a series of accessory proteins acting on a small peptide, PqqA. Binding of metal to PQQ yields an ONO-type pincer complex. More recently, a nickel-pincer nucleotide (NPN) cofactor was discovered in lactate racemase, LarA. This cofactor derives from nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide via action of a carboxylase/hydrolase, sulfur transferase, and nickel insertase, resulting in an SCS-type pincer complex. The NPN cofactor likely occurs in selected other racemases and epimerases of bacteria, archaea, and a few eukaryotes.

Widespread soil bacterium that oxidizes atmospheric methane

The global atmospheric level of methane (CH4), the second most important greenhouse gas, is currently increasing by ∼10 million tons per year. Microbial oxidation in unsaturated soils is the only known biological process that removes CH4 from the atmosphere, but so far, bacteria that can grow on atmospheric CH4 have eluded all cultivation efforts. In this study, we have isolated a pure culture of a bacterium, strain MG08 that grows on air at atmospheric concentrations of CH4 [1.86 parts per million volume (p.p.m.v.)]. This organism, named Methylocapsa gorgona, is globally distributed in soils and closely related to uncultured members of the upland soil cluster α. CH4 oxidation experiments and 13C-single cell isotope analyses demonstrated that it oxidizes atmospheric CH4 aerobically and assimilates carbon from both CH4 and CO2 Its estimated specific affinity for CH4 (a0s) is the highest for any cultivated methanotroph. However, growth on ambient air was also confirmed for Methylocapsa acidiphila and Methylocapsa aurea, close relatives with a lower specific affinity for CH4, suggesting that the ability to utilize atmospheric CH4 for growth is more widespread than previously believed. The closed genome of M. gorgona MG08 encodes a single particulate methane monooxygenase, the serine cycle for assimilation of carbon from CH4 and CO2, and CO2 fixation via the recently postulated reductive glycine pathway. It also fixes dinitrogen and expresses the genes for a high-affinity hydrogenase and carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, suggesting that atmospheric CH4 oxidizers harvest additional energy from oxidation of the atmospheric trace gases carbon monoxide (0.2 p.p.m.v.) and hydrogen (0.5 p.p.m.v.).

Influence of copper ions removal from membrane-bound form of particulate methane monooxygenase from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b on its activity for methane hydroxylation

The influence of metal removal with a chelating reagent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and metal reconstitution on the activity of particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b toward methane oxidation to methanol was investigated. For this study, a membrane fraction containing pMMO and bacterial cell membrane components was prepared. pMMO activity was assessed with two different reductants, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl hydroquinone (duroquinol). The partial removal of metal ions with EDTA resulted in the selective inhibition of NADH-driven activity. The NADH-driven activity was restored by exogenous copper ions, but not by other divalent metal cations. Furthermore, both NADH- and duroquinol-driven activities were lost completely by increasing the amount of metal removed. Duroquinol-driven activity of the metal-deficient membrane fraction increased with increasing the amount of copper ions added, while NADH-driven activity increased when more than 5 mol of copper ions per mol of pMMO monomer was added. These results suggest that NADH-driven pMMO activity requires not only the catalytic copper center of pMMO but also copper ions outside the catalytic site.

A Genome-Scale Metabolic Model for Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) Suggests Reduced Efficiency Electron Transfer to the Particulate Methane Monooxygenase

Background: Genome-scale metabolic models allow researchers to calculate yields, to predict consumption and production rates, and to study the effect of genetic modifications in silico, without running resource-intensive experiments. While these models have become an invaluable tool for optimizing industrial production hosts like Escherichia coli and S. cerevisiae, few such models exist for one-carbon (C1) metabolizers.

Results: Here, we present a genome-scale metabolic model for Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath), a well-studied obligate methanotroph, which has been used as a production strain of single cell protein (SCP). The model was manually curated, and spans a total of 879 metabolites connected via 913 reactions. The inclusion of 730 genes and comprehensive annotations, make this model not only a useful tool for modeling metabolic physiology, but also a centralized knowledge base for M. capsulatus (Bath). With it, we determined that oxidation of methane by the particulate methane monooxygenase could be driven both through direct coupling or uphill electron transfer, both operating at reduced efficiency, as either scenario matches well with experimental data and observations from literature.

Conclusion: The metabolic model will serve the ongoing fundamental research of C1 metabolism, and pave the way for rational strain design strategies toward improved SCP production processes in M. capsulatus.

Rare Earth Elements Alter Redox Balance in Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20ZR

Background: Rare Earth Elements (REEs) control methanol utilization in both methane- and methanol-utilizing microbes. It has been established that the addition of REEs leads to the transcriptional repression of MxaFI-MeDH [a two-subunit methanol dehydrogenase (MeDH), calcium-dependent] and the activation of XoxF-MeDH (a one-subunit MeDH, lanthanum-dependent). Both enzymes are pyrroquinoline quinone-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases and show significant homology; however, they display different kinetic properties and substrate specificities. This study investigates the impact of the MxaFI to XoxF switch on the behavior of metabolic networks at a global scale.

Results: In this study we investigated the steady-state growth of Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z^R in media containing calcium (Ca) or lanthanum (La, a REE element). We found that cells supplemented with La show a higher growth rate compared to Ca-cultures; however, the efficiency of carbon conversion, estimated as biomass yield, is higher in cells grown with Ca. Three complementary global-omics approaches–RNA-seq transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics–were applied to investigate the mechanisms of improved growth vs. carbon conversion. Cells grown with La showed the transcriptional activation of the xoxF gene, a homolog of the formaldehyde-activating enzyme (fae2), a putative transporter, genes for hemin-transport proteins, and nitrate reductase. In contrast, genes for mxaFI and associated cytochrome (mxaG) expression were downregulated. Proteomic profiling suggested additional adjustments of the metabolic network at the protein level, including carbon assimilation pathways, electron transport systems, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Discord between gene expression and protein abundance changes points toward the possibility of post-transcriptional control of the related systems including key enzymes of the TCA cycle and a set of electron-transport carriers. Metabolomic data followed proteomics and showed the reduction of the ribulose-monophosphate (RuMP) pathway intermediates and the increase of the TCA cycle metabolites.

Conclusion: Cells exposed to REEs display higher rates of growth but have lower carbon conversion efficiency compared to cells supplemented with Ca. The most plausible explanation for these physiological changes is an increased conversion of methanol into formate by XoxF-MeDH, which further stimulates methane oxidation but limits both the supply of reducing power and flux of formaldehyde into the RuMP pathway.

Efficient Counterselection for Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) by Using a Mutated pheS Gene

Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) is a representative gammaproteobacterial methanotroph that has been studied extensively in diverse research fields. The sacB gene, which encodes levansucrase, causing cell death in the presence of sucrose, is widely used as a counterselectable marker for disruption of a target gene in Gram-negative bacteria. However, sacB is not applicable to all Gram-negative bacteria, and its efficiency for the counterselection of M. capsulatus (Bath) is low. Here, we report the construction of an alternative counterselectable marker, pheS*, by introduction of two point mutations (A306G and T252A) into the pheS gene from M. capsulatus (Bath), which encodes the α-subunit of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase. The transformant harboring pheS* on an expression plasmid showed sensitivity to 10 mM p-chloro-phenylalanine, whereas the transformant harboring an empty plasmid showed no sensitivity, indicating the availability of pheS* as a counterselectable marker in M. capsulatus (Bath). To validate the utility of the pheS* marker in counterselection, we attempted to obtain an unmarked mutant of xoxF, a gene encoding the major subunit of Xox methanol dehydrogenase, which we failed to obtain by counterselection using the sacB marker. PCR, immunodetection using an anti-XoxF antiserum, and a cell growth assay in the absence of calcium demonstrated successful disruption of the xoxF gene in M. capsulatus (Bath). The difference in counterselection efficiencies of the markers indicated that pheS* is more suitable than sacB for counterselection in M. capsulatus (Bath). This study provides a new genetic tool enabling efficient counterselection in M. capsulatus (Bath).IMPORTANCE Methanotrophs have long been considered promising strains for biologically reducing methane from the environment and converting it into valuable products, because they can oxidize methane at ambient temperatures and pressures. Although several methodologies and tools for the genetic manipulation of methanotrophs have been developed, their mutagenic efficiency remains lower than that of tractable strains such as Escherichia coli Therefore, further improvements are still desired. The significance of our study is that we increased the efficiency of counterselection in M. capsulatus (Bath) by employing pheS*, which was newly constructed as a counterselectable marker. This will allow for the efficient production of gene-disrupted and gene-integrated mutants of M. capsulatus (Bath). We anticipate that this counterselection system will be utilized widely by the methanotroph research community, leading to improved productivity of methane-based bioproduction and new insights into methanotrophy.

Structure and function of the lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenase XoxF from the methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1C

In methylotrophic bacteria, which use one-carbon (C1) compounds as a carbon source, methanol is oxidized by pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) enzymes. Methylotrophic genomes generally encode two distinct MDHs, MxaF and XoxF. MxaF is a well-studied, calcium-dependent heterotetrameric enzyme whereas XoxF is a lanthanide-dependent homodimer. Recent studies suggest that XoxFs are likely the functional MDHs in many environments. In methanotrophs, methylotrophs that utilize methane, interactions between particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) and MxaF have been detected. To investigate the possibility of interactions between pMMO and XoxF, XoxF was isolated from the methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1C (5G-XoxF). Purified 5G-XoxF exhibits a specific activity of 0.16 μmol DCPIP reduced min^-1 mg^-1. The 1.85 Å resolution crystal structure reveals a La(III) ion in the active site, in contrast to the calcium ion in MxaF. The overall fold is similar to other MDH structures, but 5G-XoxF is a monomer in solution. An interaction between 5G-XoxF and its cognate pMMO was detected by biolayer interferometry, with a K_D value of 50 ± 17 μM. These results suggest an alternative model of MDH-pMMO association, in which a XoxF monomer may bind to pMMO, and underscore the potential importance of lanthanide-dependent MDHs in biological methane oxidation.

Biological conversion of methane to chemicals and fuels: technical challenges and issues

Methane is a promising next-generation carbon feedstock for industrial biotechnology due to its low price and huge availability. Biological conversion of methane to valuable products can mitigate methane-induced global warming as greenhouse gas. There have been challenges for the conversion of methane into various chemicals and fuels using engineered non-native hosts with synthetic methanotrophy or methanotrophs with the reconstruction of synthetic pathways for target products. Herein, we analyze the technical challenges and issues of potent methane bioconversion technology. Pros and cons of metabolic engineering of methanotrophs for methane bioconversion, and perspectives on the bioconversion of methane to chemicals and liquid fuels are discussed.

A tale of two methane monooxygenases

Methane monooxygenase (MMO) enzymes activate O2 for oxidation of methane. Two distinct MMOs exist in nature, a soluble form that uses a diiron active site (sMMO) and a membrane-bound form with a catalytic copper center (pMMO). Understanding the reaction mechanisms of these enzymes is of fundamental importance to biologists and chemists, and is also relevant to the development of new biocatalysts. The sMMO catalytic cycle has been elucidated in detail, including O2 activation intermediates and the nature of the methane-oxidizing species. By contrast, many aspects of pMMO catalysis remain unclear, most notably the nuclearity and molecular details of the copper active site. Here, we review the current state of knowledge for both enzymes, and consider pMMO O2 activation intermediates suggested by computational and synthetic studies in the context of existing biochemical data. Further work is needed on all fronts, with the ultimate goal of understanding how these two remarkable enzymes catalyze a reaction not readily achieved by any other metalloenzyme or biomimetic compound.

Biocatalysts for methane conversion: big progress on breaking a small substrate

Nature utilizes two groups of enzymes to catalyze methane conversions, methyl-coenzyme M reductases (MCRs) and methane monooxygenases (MMOs). These enzymes have been difficult to incorporate into industrial processes due to their complexity, poor stability, and lack of recombinant tractability. Despite these issues, new ways of preparing and stabilizing these enzymes have recently been discovered, and new mechanistic insight into how MCRs and MMOs break the C-H bond in nature's most inert hydrocarbon have been obtained. This review focuses on recent findings in the methane biocatalysis field, and discusses the impact of these finding on designing MMO and MCR-based biotechnologies.

A methanotroph-based biorefinery: Potential scenarios for generating multiple products from a single fermentation

Methane, a carbon source for methanotrophic bacteria, is the principal component of natural gas and is produced during anaerobic digestion of organic matter (biogas). Methanotrophs are a viable source of single cell protein (feed supplement) and can produce various products, since they accumulate osmolytes (e.g. ectoine, sucrose), phospholipids (potential biofuels) and biopolymers (polyhydroxybutyrate, glycogen), among others. Other cell components, such as surface layers, metal chelating proteins (methanobactin), enzymes (methane monooxygenase) or heterologous proteins hold promise as future products. Here, scenarios are presented where ectoine, polyhydroxybutyrate or protein G are synthesised as the primary product, in conjunction with a variety of ancillary products that could enhance process viability. Single or dual-stage processes and volumetric requirements for bioreactors are discussed, in terms of an annual biomass output of 1000 tonnesyear(-1). Product yields are discussed in relation to methane and oxygen consumption and organic waste generation.

Methane-Oxidizing Enzymes: An Upstream Problem in Biological Gas-to-Liquids Conversion

Biological conversion of natural gas to liquids (Bio-GTL) represents an immense economic opportunity. In nature, aerobic methanotrophic bacteria and anaerobic archaea are able to selectively oxidize methane using methane monooxygenase (MMO) and methyl coenzyme M reductase (MCR) enzymes. Although significant progress has been made toward genetically manipulating these organisms for biotechnological applications, the enzymes themselves are slow, complex, and not recombinantly tractable in traditional industrial hosts. With turnover numbers of 0.16-13 s(-1), these enzymes pose a considerable upstream problem in the biological production of fuels or chemicals from methane. Methane oxidation enzymes will need to be engineered to be faster to enable high volumetric productivities; however, efforts to do so and to engineer simpler enzymes have been minimally successful. Moreover, known methane-oxidizing enzymes have different expression levels, carbon and energy efficiencies, require auxiliary systems for biosynthesis and function, and vary considerably in terms of complexity and reductant requirements. The pros and cons of using each methane-oxidizing enzyme for Bio-GTL are considered in detail. The future for these enzymes is bright, but a renewed focus on studying them will be critical to the successful development of biological processes that utilize methane as a feedstock.

Methanobactin and the Link between Copper and Bacterial Methane Oxidation

Methanobactins (mbs) are low-molecular-mass (<1,200 Da) copper-binding peptides, or chalkophores, produced by many methane-oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs). These molecules exhibit similarities to certain iron-binding siderophores but are expressed and secreted in response to copper limitation. Structurally, mbs are characterized by a pair of heterocyclic rings with associated thioamide groups that form the copper coordination site. One of the rings is always an oxazolone and the second ring an oxazolone, an imidazolone, or a pyrazinedione moiety. The mb molecule originates from a peptide precursor that undergoes a series of posttranslational modifications, including (i) ring formation, (ii) cleavage of a leader peptide sequence, and (iii) in some cases, addition of a sulfate group. Functionally, mbs represent the extracellular component of a copper acquisition system. Consistent with this role in copper acquisition, mbs have a high affinity for copper ions. Following binding, mbs rapidly reduce Cu(2+) to Cu(1+). In addition to binding copper, mbs will bind most transition metals and near-transition metals and protect the host methanotroph as well as other bacteria from toxic metals. Several other physiological functions have been assigned to mbs, based primarily on their redox and metal-binding properties. In this review, we examine the current state of knowledge of this novel type of metal-binding peptide. We also explore its potential applications, how mbs may alter the bioavailability of multiple metals, and the many roles mbs may play in the physiology of methanotrophs.

XoxF Acts as the Predominant Methanol Dehydrogenase in the Type I Methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense

Many methylotrophic taxa harbor two distinct methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) systems for oxidizing methanol to formaldehyde: the well-studied calcium-dependent MxaFI type and the more recently discovered lanthanide-containing XoxF type. MxaFI has traditionally been accepted as the major functional MDH in bacteria that contain both enzymes. However, in this study, we present evidence that, in a type I methanotroph, Methylomicrobium buryatense, XoxF is likely the primary functional MDH in the environment. The addition of lanthanides increases xoxF expression and greatly reduces mxa expression, even under conditions in which calcium concentrations are almost 100-fold higher than lanthanide concentrations. Mutations in genes encoding the MDH enzymes validate our finding that XoxF is the major functional MDH, as XoxF mutants grow more poorly than MxaFI mutants under unfavorable culturing conditions. In addition, mutant and transcriptional analyses demonstrate that the lanthanide-dependent MDH switch operating in methanotrophs is mediated in part by the orphan response regulator MxaB, whose gene transcription is itself lanthanide responsive.

IMPORTANCE

Aerobic methanotrophs, bacteria that oxidize methane for carbon and energy, require a methanol dehydrogenase enzyme to convert methanol into formaldehyde. The calcium-dependent enzyme MxaFI has been thought to primarily carry out methanol oxidation in methanotrophs. Recently, it was discovered that XoxF, a lanthanide-containing enzyme present in most methanotrophs, can also oxidize methanol. In a methanotroph with both MxaFI and XoxF, we demonstrate that lanthanides transcriptionally control genes encoding the two methanol dehydrogenases, in part by controlling expression of the response regulator MxaB. Lanthanides are abundant in the Earth's crust, and we demonstrate that micromolar amounts of lanthanides are sufficient to suppress MxaFI expression. Thus, we present evidence that XoxF acts as the predominant methanol dehydrogenase in a methanotroph.

The Opportunity for High-Performance Biomaterials from Methane

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers are widely recognised as outstanding candidates to replace conventional petroleum-derived polymers. Their mechanical properties are good and can be tailored through copolymer composition, they are biodegradable, and unlike many alternatives, they do not rely on oil-based feedstocks. Further, they are the only commodity polymer that can be synthesised intracellularly, ensuring stereoregularity and high molecular weight. However, despite offering enormous potential for many years, they are still not making a significant impact. This is broadly because commercial uptake has been limited by variable performance (inconsistent polymer properties) and high production costs of the raw polymer. Additionally, the main type of PHA produced naturally is poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), which has limited scope due to its brittle nature and low thermal stability, as well as its tendency to embrittle over time. Production cost is strongly impacted by the type of the feedstock used. In this article we consider: the production of PHAs from methanotrophs using methane as a cost-effective substrate; the use of mixed cultures, as opposed to pure strains; and strategies to generate a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer (PHBV), which has more desirable qualities such as toughness and elasticity.

Marker Exchange Mutagenesis of mxaF, Encoding the Large Subunit of the Mxa Methanol Dehydrogenase, in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

Methanotrophs have remarkable redundancy in multiple steps of the central pathway of methane oxidation to carbon dioxide. For example, it has been known for over 30 years that two forms of methane monooxygenase, responsible for oxidizing methane to methanol, exist in methanotrophs, i.e., soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) and particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO), and that expression of these two forms is controlled by the availability of copper. Specifically, sMMO expression occurs in the absence of copper, while pMMO expression increases with increasing copper concentrations. More recently, it was discovered that multiple forms of methanol dehydrogenase (MeDH), Mxa MeDH and Xox MeDH, also exist in methanotrophs and that the expression of these alternative forms is regulated by the availability of cerium. That is, expression of Xox MeDH increases in the presence of cerium, while Mxa MeDH expression decreases in the presence of cerium. As it had been earlier concluded that pMMO and Mxa MeDH form a supercomplex in which electrons from Mxa MeDH are back donated to pMMO to drive the initial oxidation of methane, we speculated that Mxa MeDH could be rendered inactive through marker-exchange mutagenesis but growth on methane could still be possible if cerium was added to increase the expression of Xox MeDH under sMMO-expressing conditions. Here we report that mxaF, encoding the large subunit of Mxa MeDH, could indeed be knocked out in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, yet growth on methane was still possible, so long as cerium was added. Interestingly, growth of this mutant occurred in both the presence and the absence of copper, suggesting that Xox MeDH can replace Mxa MeDH regardless of the form of MMO expressed.

Genome-scale metabolic reconstructions and theoretical investigation of methane conversion in Methylomicrobium buryatense strain 5G(B1)

BACKGROUND

Methane-utilizing bacteria (methanotrophs) are capable of growth on methane and are attractive systems for bio-catalysis. However, the application of natural methanotrophic strains to large-scale production of value-added chemicals/biofuels requires a number of physiological and genetic alterations. An accurate metabolic model coupled with flux balance analysis can provide a solid interpretative framework for experimental data analyses and integration.

RESULTS

A stoichiometric flux balance model of Methylomicrobium buryatense strain 5G(B1) was constructed and used for evaluating metabolic engineering strategies for biofuels and chemical production with a methanotrophic bacterium as the catalytic platform. The initial metabolic reconstruction was based on whole-genome predictions. Each metabolic step was manually verified, gapfilled, and modified in accordance with genome-wide expression data. The final model incorporates a total of 841 reactions (in 167 metabolic pathways). Of these, up to 400 reactions were recruited to produce 118 intracellular metabolites. The flux balance simulations suggest that only the transfer of electrons from methanol oxidation to methane oxidation steps can support measured growth and methane/oxygen consumption parameters, while the scenario employing NADH as a possible source of electrons for particulate methane monooxygenase cannot. Direct coupling between methane oxidation and methanol oxidation accounts for most of the membrane-associated methane monooxygenase activity. However the best fit to experimental results is achieved only after assuming that the efficiency of direct coupling depends on growth conditions and additional NADH input (about 0.1-0.2 mol of incremental NADH per one mol of methane oxidized). The additional input is proposed to cover loss of electrons through inefficiency and to sustain methane oxidation at perturbations or support uphill electron transfer. Finally, the model was used for testing the carbon conversion efficiency of different pathways for C1-utilization, including different variants of the ribulose monophosphate pathway and the serine cycle.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that the metabolic model can provide an effective tool for predicting metabolic parameters for different nutrients and genetic perturbations, and as such, should be valuable for metabolic engineering of the central metabolism of M. buryatense strains.

Cerium regulates expression of alternative methanol dehydrogenases in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

Methanotrophs have multiple methane monooxygenases that are well known to be regulated by copper, i.e., a "copper switch." At low copper/biomass ratios the soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) is expressed while expression and activity of the particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) increases with increasing availability of copper. In many methanotrophs there are also multiple methanol dehydrogenases (MeDHs), one based on Mxa and another based on Xox. Mxa-MeDH is known to have calcium in its active site, while Xox-MeDHs have been shown to have rare earth elements in their active site. We show here that the expression levels of Mxa-MeDH and Xox-MeDH in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b significantly decreased and increased, respectively, when grown in the presence of cerium but the absence of copper compared to the absence of both metals. Expression of sMMO and pMMO was not affected. In the presence of copper, the effect of cerium on gene expression was less significant, i.e., expression of Mxa-MeDH in the presence of copper and cerium was slightly lower than in the presence of copper alone, but Xox-MeDH was again found to increase significantly. As expected, the addition of copper caused sMMO and pMMO expression levels to significantly decrease and increase, respectively, but the simultaneous addition of cerium had no discernible effect on MMO expression. As a result, it appears Mxa-MeDH can be uncoupled from methane oxidation by sMMO in M. trichosporium OB3b but not from pMMO.

Enzymatic oxidation of methane

Methane monooxygenases (MMOs) are enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of methane to methanol in methanotrophic bacteria. As potential targets for new gas-to-liquid methane bioconversion processes, MMOs have attracted intense attention in recent years. There are two distinct types of MMO, a soluble, cytoplasmic MMO (sMMO) and a membrane-bound, particulate MMO (pMMO). Both oxidize methane at metal centers within a complex, multisubunit scaffold, but the structures, active sites, and chemical mechanisms are completely different. This Current Topic review article focuses on the overall architectures, active site structures, substrate reactivities, protein-protein interactions, and chemical mechanisms of both MMOs, with an emphasis on fundamental aspects. In addition, recent advances, including new details of interactions between the sMMO components, characterization of sMMO intermediates, and progress toward understanding the pMMO metal centers are highlighted. The work summarized here provides a guide for those interested in exploiting MMOs for biotechnological applications.

Metabolic engineering in methanotrophic bacteria

Methane, as natural gas or biogas, is the least expensive source of carbon for (bio)chemical synthesis. Scalable biological upgrading of this simple alkane to chemicals and fuels can bring new sustainable solutions to a number of industries with large environmental footprints, such as natural gas/petroleum production, landfills, wastewater treatment, and livestock. Microbial biocatalysis with methane as a feedstock has been pursued off and on for almost a half century, with little enduring success. Today, biological engineering and systems biology provide new opportunities for metabolic system modulation and give new optimism to the concept of a methane-based bio-industry. Here we present an overview of the most recent advances pertaining to metabolic engineering of microbial methane utilization. Some ideas concerning metabolic improvements for production of acetyl-CoA and pyruvate, two main precursors for bioconversion, are presented. We also discuss main gaps in the current knowledge of aerobic methane utilization, which must be solved in order to release the full potential of methane-based biosystems.