Methylotrophic microorganisms expressing soluble methane monooxygenase proteins

US12084705B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA · US

Inventors

• Jonathan M. Galazka · Berkeley, US
• Asif Rahman · Brookline, US
• Samantha Therese Fleury · Littleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 4, 2019
• Grant date: Sep 10, 2024
• Expiry date: Oct 22, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12Y114/13025
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methylotrophic microorganisms, particularly methylotrophic yeasts and more particularly Pichia pastoris, which exhibit the ability to oxidize methane to methanol. Methods of making such microorganisms and DNA constructs for making such microorganisms. Such methylotrophic microorganisms are genetically transformed to exhibit the oxidizing activity of a soluble methane monooxygenase of a methanotrophic bacterium. Such transformed methylotrophic microorganisms contain at least three methane monooxygenase hydroxylase (MMOH) protein subunits of a methanotrophic bacterium: MMOH alpha, MMOH beta and MMOH gamma and a methane monooxygenase reductase (MMOR) of a methanotrophic bacterium.