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Updated: Jul 10, 2025
Methanol Independent Expression by Pichia Pastoris Employing De-repression Technologies
Published on: January 23, 2019
Engineering photo-methylotrophic Methylobacterium for enhanced 3-hydroxypropionic acid production during non-growth
Zeng-Xin Ma1, Chen-Xi Feng1, Ya-Zhen Song1
1School of Life Sciences, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, and Qingdao International Center on Microbes Utilizing Biogas, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
This study explored the potential of methanol as a sustainable feedstock for biomanufacturing, focusing on Methylobacterium extorquens, a well-established representative of methylotrophic cell factories. Despite this bacterium's long history, its untapped photosynthetic capabilities for production enhancement have remained unreported. Using genome-scale flux balance analysis, it was hypothesized that introducing photon fluxes could boost the yield of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), an energy- and reducing equivalent-consuming chemicals. To realize this, M. extorquens was genetically modified by eliminating the negative regulator of photosynthesis, leading to improved ATP levels and metabolic activity in non-growth cells during a two-stage fermentation process. This modification resulted in a remarkable 3.0-fold increase in 3-HP titer and a 2.1-fold increase in its yield during stage (II). Transcriptomics revealed that enhanced light-driven methanol oxidation, NADH transhydrogenation, ATP generation, and fatty acid degradation were key factors. This development of photo-methylotrophy as a platform technology introduced novel opportunities for future production enhancements.
