Microbial convertion of natural gas: New processes and products from Methylococcus Capsulatus

Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) is the only methanotrophic bacterium for which the full genome sequence has been published, and the ability of M. capsulatus to oxidise methane has been used in an industrial process by Norferm AS to convert natural gas int o BioProtein®. M. capsulatus is the major component of BioProtein, which is a protein source with a favorable amino acid composition for farmed salmonids and other monogastric animals. Bioprotein AS has been recently been established by IRIS, UiB and UMB, to develop novel products using M. capsulatus. In the present project, we will construct and develop novel high-value recombinant technology products and nutrient enriched value-added derivatives from M. capsulatus and BioProtein, and evaluate the use o f these products as special feed ingredients for farmed fish, as vaccines, and as purified high-value products for e.g., the fermentation industry. MBI at UiB will establish a M. capsulatus heterologous expression system of proteins with defined function s, such as enzymatic activities, and construct a recombinant M. capsulatus with the ability to oxidise higher alkanes. IRIS will optimise the fermentation parameters for each of the new recombinant M. capsulatus products, as well as bioprocess strategies for a scale-up of the production. A further fractionation of the autolysate, made from BioProtein, by filtration technology will provide the project with value-added products enriched in amino acids and nucleic acids or lipids, intended for use in feed fo r farmed fish during special critical phases such as during fish fry and the smoltification process. APC at UMB will investigate and evaluate the chemical and nutritional quality of these new recombinant and fractionated products and how these affect grow th rate, feed efficiency and feed intake, fish quality, and animal health and welfare, including immunological responses and gut health.