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Strategies and challenges with the microbial conversion of methanol to high‐value chemicals
Author(s) -
Zhan Chunjun,
Li Xiaowei,
Yang Yankun,
Nielsen Jens,
Bai Zhonghu,
Chen Yun
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.27862
Subject(s) - commodity chemicals , metabolic engineering , methanol , biochemical engineering , bioprocess , biofuel , metabolic flux analysis , metabolic pathway , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , engineering , metabolism , paleontology , enzyme
As alternatives to traditional fermentation substrates, methanol (CH 3 OH), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) represent promising one‐carbon (C1) sources that are readily available at low‐cost and share similar metabolic pathway. Of these C1 compounds, methanol is used as a carbon and energy source by native methylotrophs, and can be obtained from CO 2 and CH 4 by chemical catalysis. Therefore, constructing and rewiring methanol utilization pathways may enable the use of one‐carbon sources for microbial fermentations. Recent bioengineering efforts have shown that both native and nonnative methylotrophic organisms can be engineered to convert methanol, together with other carbon sources, into biofuels and other commodity chemicals. However, many challenges remain and must be overcome before industrial‐scale bioprocessing can be established using these engineered cell refineries. Here, we provide a comprehensive summary and comparison of methanol metabolic pathways from different methylotrophs, followed by a review of recent progress in engineering methanol metabolic pathways in vitro and in vivo to produce chemicals. We discuss the major challenges associated with establishing efficient methanol metabolic pathways in microbial cells, and propose improved designs for future engineering.