Methane Incorporated

Methane (CH₄) is the second most prevalent emitted greenhouse gas on earth. Today we are facing the challenge that methane concentration in the atmosphere is increasing, leading to global warming. The global warming potential of methane is about 84 times higher than that of carbon dioxide (CO₂) when compered over 20 years. Technical methods to reuse emitted methane gas are cost- and time- intensive and therefore rarely used.

The goal of the project is to develop an Escherichia coli based model that filters methane out of the air and converts it into biomass. First part of the project is to express the soluble methane monooxygenase enzyme complex (sMMO) of the methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus in E. coli. In order for the multisubunit enzyme complex to break down methane to methanol oxygen is required. Second part of the project is to establishing the Ribulose-Monophosphate (RuMP)- pathway in E.coli. The pathway is found in the methanotroph Bacillus methanolicus and enables E. coli to convert methanol into biomass.

To test the functionality of the modified E. coli, the bacteria are grown in a closed system under methane rich conditions. Additionally, a filter was created that can contain the modified E.coli and evenly distribute methane. The filter can then be placed in areas where methane emission is a problem.