Growth of Bacillus methanolicus in seawater-based media.
Bacillus methanolicus has been proposed as a biocatalyst for the low cost production of commodity chemicals. The organism can use methanol as sole carbon and energy source, and it grows aerobically at elevated temperatures. Methanol can be made available from off-shore conversion of natural gas to methanol, through gas-to-liquid technology. Growth of the organism in seawater-based medium would further reduce the costs of chemical production performed near an off-shore natural gas source. The growth of strain PB1 (ATCC 51375) in shake flask experiments with trypticase soy broth medium showed minimal salt-inhibition at the concentration of NaCl in seawater. The ability of B. methanolicus PB1 to grow in Pacific Ocean water using methanol as a carbon and energy source was also tested. Following a simple adaptation procedure, PB1 was able to grow on methanol in semi-defined medium with 100% seawater with good growth yields and similar growth rates compared with those achieved on media prepared in deionized water.
Komives
Claire F
CF
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San Jose State University, 1 Washington Sq. San Jose, CA 95192-0082, USA. claire.komives@sjsu.edu
Cheung
Louis Yip-Yan
LY
Pluschkell
Stefanie B
SB
Flickinger
Michael C
MC
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001407:Bacillus / Q000254:growth & development*; D018533:Biomass; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000494:pharmacology; D012623:Seawater
D003470:Culture Media; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D000432:Methanol
Microbiology. 2002 Oct;148(Pt 10):3223-33
12368456
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1990 Apr;56(4):963-70
2111119
Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1992 Jul;42(3):439-45
1380290
J Bacteriol. 2004 Mar;186(5):1229-38
14973041
J Bacteriol. 1992 Aug;174(16):5346-53
1644761
Biotechnol Bioeng. 1969 May;11(3):269-81
4980637
Biotechnol Bioeng. 1996 Mar 20;49(6):639-53
18626859
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2003 Jul;69(7):3986-95
12839772