Bioconversion of methane to chemicals and protein products

Calysta, Inc. has developed a platform for host organisms (methanotrophs) capable of metabolizing this abundant domestic feedstock to a variety of products including higher value biochemicals and single cell protein. The genetic tools, together with innovative fermentation and bioprocess approaches, enable the rapid implementation of well-characterized pathways to utilize natural gas as a biological feedstock instead of sugar. Longer term, biomass-to-methane strategies may eventually enable a fully renewable carbon cycle if ‘green’ methane-based technologies are developed.

Methanotrops are prokaryotes that utilize methane as their sole source of carbon and energy. Methanotrophs have been observed in a wide range of environments, including both aerobic and anaerobic, typically in association with natural methane sources such as degrading biomass or petroleum offgas. While methanotrophs are a logical starting point for the development of a biological methane conversion platform, a critical requirement for the development of a biotechnology platform is the availability of tools for the directed manipulation and modification of the host cell’s metabolism. Although such tools are commonplace for model organisms (e.g. Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae), relatively little effort has been expended to develop similar capabilities in methanotrophs. Calysta has therefore developed a suite of tools for the expression of heterologous proteins in methanotrophs , as well as tools for the efficient targeted manipulation of the methanotroph genome. This presentation will focus on our recent advances and developments to this toolbox.