New Microbe Eats Methanol Faster for Cheaper Bioplastics in South Korea

This new microbe grows much faster in methanol than old ones. This means making things like bioplastics could be 50% cheaper.
By Newsroom | Biotechnology, South Korea |

A newly engineered microbial strain exhibits accelerated growth in high-methanol environments, a development poised to bolster the economic viability of 'C1 biorefineries'. Researchers at UNIST have modified a microbial population to efficiently metabolize methanol, a single-carbon molecule, and convert it into valuable chemical byproducts. This advancement directly addresses a key hurdle in the practical application of biorefineries, which traditionally convert fossil fuel-derived materials into products like plastics and organic acids.

Methanol-tolerant microbial strain could make sustainable biomanufacturing more economically viable - 1

The engineered strain's capacity for rapid proliferation in concentrated methanol conditions – where typical strains are inhibited above a 1% concentration – represents a substantial departure from previous limitations. This allows for quicker development of such modified organisms, sidestepping slower, evolutionary adaptation processes. Professor Kim, a participant in the research, suggests this could lead to significantly reduced production costs and improved output in areas such as bioplastic and organic acid manufacturing, thereby rendering sustainable production methods more economically competitive.

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Methanol-tolerant microbial strain could make sustainable biomanufacturing more economically viable - 2

Underlying Mechanisms and Genetic Insights

Further examination into the strain's enhanced resilience points to specific genetic modifications. Mutations within the 'metY' and 'kefB' genes appear central to the organism's improved tolerance and efficiency. The 'metY' mutation, for instance, has been observed to curb the production of methoxine, a detrimental byproduct generated during methanol metabolism. Concurrently, the 'kefB' mutation is implicated in optimizing the organism's cellular energy utilization.

Methanol-tolerant microbial strain could make sustainable biomanufacturing more economically viable - 3

Towards Sustainable Petrochemical Alternatives

The core concept of a 'C1 biorefinery' involves introducing single-carbon compounds, such as methanol, to microbial systems for the synthesis of chemicals and materials conventionally sourced from fossil fuels. This research provides a foundational technology for such biorefinery operations, bringing the prospect of producing petrochemical derivatives through biological means closer to reality. The speed at which engineered strains can now be developed bypasses the protracted periods previously required for evolutionary adaptation.

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Publication and Collaboration

This work has been detailed in the Journal of Biological Engineering under the title: "Integrated genomic and transcriptomic Insights into methanol tolerance mechanisms in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1, identifying key targets for strain engineering." Key contributors include Gyu Min Lee, Khoi Nhat Pham, and Ina Bang, among others, all affiliated with UNIST.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What new microbe did scientists in South Korea create?
Scientists at UNIST in South Korea have made a new microbe that can eat methanol much faster. This microbe can grow in high amounts of methanol, which is hard for normal microbes.
Q: Why is this new microbe important for making bioplastics?
This microbe can turn methanol into useful things like bioplastics and acids faster. This could make these products cheaper to make and help the environment.
Q: How does this new microbe work better than others?
The new microbe has changes in its genes, like 'metY' and 'kefB'. These changes help it survive in methanol better and use it more efficiently without making bad waste.
Q: When will we see cheaper bioplastics because of this?
Researchers believe this could make production costs much lower. They hope to see cheaper bioplastics and other chemicals made this way soon, possibly by 2025.
Q: Where did the scientists do this research?
This research was done by scientists at UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) in South Korea. The findings were published in the Journal of Biological Engineering.