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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/32484
INTRODUCING A NEW BIOENGINEERED BUG: METHYLOBACTERIUM EXTORQUENS TUNED AS A MICROBIAL BIOPLASTIC FACTORY
Affilliation
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Université de Sherbrooke. Department of Chemical and Biotechnological Engineering. Laboratoire de Bioingénierie et de Biophysique de l’Université de Sherbrooke. Québec, Canada.
Microbial and Enzymatic Technology Group. Bioprocess Centre. Biotechnology Research Institute. National Research Council Canada. Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Université de Sherbrooke. Department of Chemical and Biotechnological Engineering. Laboratoire de Bioingénierie et de Biophysique de l’Université de Sherbrooke. Québec, Canada.
Microbial and Enzymatic Technology Group. Bioprocess Centre. Biotechnology Research Institute. National Research Council Canada. Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Abstract
Discussion on and use of methanol as chemical feedstock and as alternative fuel has gained momentum during the past years. Consequently, microorganism and product design based on ‘’methylotrophism’’ is in vogue as reflected by increasing research and development activities in methanol-related areas. A recent example of microorganism and product development is the use of recombinant Methylobacterium extorquens ATCC 55366 strains in the production of second generation biopolyesters. Feeding n-alkenoic acids in addition to methanol yielded functionalized polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and uncovered how M. extorquens copes with fatty acids. While some parts of the degradation pathway remain unclear, possible metabolic routes are suggested that may explain the significant loss of double bonds prior to polymerization of PHA precursors and occurrence of odd-numbered monomers derived from even-numbered n-alkenoic acids. In addition, microbial discoloration upon fatty acid feeding is discussed and future directions for further genetic modification of M. extorquens are provided.
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