SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY ENGINEERING OF BACTERIAL SYSTEMS FOR ATMOSPHERIC METHANE REDUCTION APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Background: Atmospheric methane is a major driver of global warming due to its high capacity to trap heat and its increasing emissions from industrial and agricultural activities. Synthetic biology provides new ways to engineer methanotrophic bacteria for efficient capture and conversion of methane under atmospheric conditions.
Objective:  To develop bacterial systems with enhanced methane oxidation efficiency and environmental adaptability for mitigating atmospheric methane.

Methodology: Methanotrophic bacterial strains were genetically engineered by means of synthetic biology approaches, e.g. methane monooxygenase overexpression, optimization of carbon assimilation pathways and stress-resistance modules. Engineered strains were grown under low methane concentrations (1.8-5 ppm) and methane consumption was determined by gas chromatography . Biomass productivity and metabolic stability were also examined under simulated environmental stress conditions.

Findings: Methane uptake rate was increased by 2.5-fold in engineered strains (31.4 µmol/h vs. 12.5 µmol/h in wild-type strains). Furthermore, increased biomass production and enhanced oxidative stress tolerance were observed, reflecting stable metabolic performance under atmospheric methane conditions.

Conclusion: Methanotrophic bacteria with synthetic biology engineering have great promise for sustainable and scalable systems for mitigation of atmospheric methane and environmental biotechnological applications.