ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on aerobic methanotrophs in terms of methanotrophic biodiversity, biocatalytic properties, and cultivation modes. It discusses the potential of genetic engineering and metabolic engineering to alter methanotrophic metabolism for improved technical performance and allied cost-cutting strategies. The chapter reports that lipid production from Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1 can be augmented threefold by limiting the glycogen biosynthesis and this bioconversion elucidates the remarkable CH4-biofixation mechanism used by methanotrophs. An interplay of environmental factors like temperature and pH also has a profound influence upon methanotrophic growth and natural gas bioconversion. The bioconversion technologies discussed in this chapter offer a promising strategy to convert natural gas into liquid fuels or chemicals for simplified handling and transportation. Currently, biofuels, biopolymers, and other bioproducts have been produced from natural gas in pilot or commercial scales.
