Bioconversion of Methanol into Value-added Chemicals in Native and Synthetic Methylotrophs

Methanol, commercially generated from methane, is a renewable chemical feedstock that is highly soluble, relatively inexpensive, and easy to handle. The concept of native methylotrophic bacteria serving as whole cell catalysts for production of chemicals and materials using methanol as a feedstock is highly attractive. In recent years, the available omics data for methylotrophic bacteria, especially for Methylobacterium extorquens, the most well-characterized model methylotroph, have provided a solid platform for rational engineering of methylotrophic bacteria for industrial production. In addition, there is a strong interest in converting the more traditional heterotrophic production platforms toward the use of single carbon substrates, including methanol, through metabolic engineering. In this chapter, we review the recent progress toward achieving the desired growth and production yields from methanol, by genetically engineered native methylotrophic strains and by the engineered synthetic methylotrophs.