Kang NK, Chau THT, Lee EY. Engineered methane biocatalysis: strategies to assimilate methane for chemical production.
Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024;
85:103031. [PMID:
38101295 DOI:
10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103031]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Methane (CH4), one of the greenhouse gases, is considered a promising feedstock for the biological production of fuels and chemicals. Although recent studies have demonstrated the capability of methanotrophs to convert CH4 into various bioproducts by metabolic engineering, the productivity has not reached commercial levels. As such, there is a growing interest in synthetic methanotrophic systems as an alternative. This review summarizes the strategies for enhancing native CH4 assimilation and discusses the challenges for the construction of synthetic methanotrophy into nonmethanotrophic industrial strains. Additionally, we suggest a mixed heterotrophic approach that integrates CH4 assimilation with glucose and xylose metabolism to improve productivity. The synthetic methanotrophic system presented in this review could pave the way for sustainable and efficient biomanufacturing using CH4.
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