Optimization of methanol biosynthesis by Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b: An approach to improve methanol accumulation

Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b is a methanotrophic bacterium containing methane mono-oxygenase, catalyzing hydroxylation of methane to methanol. When methane is oxidized, the product is subsequently oxidized by methanol dehydrogenase contained in the same bacterium. To prevent further oxidation of methanol, the cell suspension was treated by cyclopropanol, an irreversible inhibitor for methanol dehydrogenase, leading to extracellular methanol accumulation. However, the reaction was terminated at approx 3 h with a final methanol concentration below 2.96 mmol/g dry cell. The methanol production efficiency (the ratio of the produced methanol per methane consumption) was 2.90%. By selecting the culture conditions and the reaction conditions, the reaction continued for 100 h, resulting in a methanol concentration of 152 mmol/g dry cell. This level was 51 times higher than that of the conventional reaction, and the methanol production efficiency was 61%.