ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the accumulated information regarding the use of methylotrophs and/or their enzymes for the transformation or production of petrochemicals. The discovery of the extensive range of chemical transformations catalyzed by methanotrophs has opened up the possibility of their exploitation as biocatalysis. The ability of methane monooxygenase to oxidize a wide variety of organic compounds including alkanes, alkenes, halogenated hydrocarbons, cyclic and aromatic compounds suggests that methylotrophs can be used in the clean-up of organic pollutants. The primary industrial application for methylotrophs has been the production of single-cell protein, and development in this area continues. Other areas of application for methylotrophs have been suggested, unfortunately, with no follow-up studies. Thompson et al. found ß-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in PHB mobilization, in extracts of methylotrophs. Another approach in studying methylotrophs (methane monooxygenase) is to elucidate the enzyme active site configuration, and try mimicking the enzyme active site.
