Patent ID: 9085784
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: C12P

Abstract:
1. A method for enhancing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production by a culture of methanotrophic microorganisms, the method comprising: (a) providing a culture medium comprising copper, and at least one additional nutrient; (b) providing a culture comprising methanotrophic microorganisms to said culture medium; (c) culturing said methanotrophic microorganisms in said culture medium; (d) exposing said culture of methanotrophic microorganisms in said culture medium to a constant source of methane throughout the method; (e) limiting the concentration of said copper in said culture medium; (f) allowing or causing, for a first period of time, at least one of said additional nutrient in said culture medium to decrease to a concentration causing said methanotrophic microorganisms to produce intracellular PHA; (g) causing said PHA-producing microorganisms produced in step (f) to reproduce using particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) by exposing, for a second period of time, said PHA-producing methanotrophic microorganisms to said culture medium of step (a); and (h) subjecting said culture of PHA producing methanotrophic microorganisms to at least two repetitions of steps (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) selecting for methanotrophic microorganisms that produce said intracellular PHA using said pMMO.