Biosynthesis of chiral diols from alkenes using metabolically engineered type II methanotroph.

Methanotrophs are environmentally friendly microorganisms capable of converting gas to liquid using methane monooxygenases (MMOs). In addition to methane-to-methanol conversion, MMOs catalyze the conversion of alkanes to alcohols and alkenes to epoxides. Herein, the efficacy of epoxidation by type I and II methanotrophs was investigated, and type II methanotrophs were observed to be more efficient in converting alkenes to epoxides. Subsequently, three (Epoxide hydrolase) EHs of different origins were overexpressed in the type II methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b to produce 1,2-diols from epoxide. Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b expressing Caulobacter crescentus EH produced the highest amount of (R)-1,2-propanediol (251.5 mg/L) from 1-propene. These results demonstrate the possibility of using methanotrophs as a microbial platform for diol production and the development of a continuous bioreactor for industrial applications.