Directed evolution of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 to high methanol concentration

Methylotrophic bacteria are able to form their total biomass from reduced mono-carbon compounds like methanol. They are using methanol as carbon and energy source, but exceed a given threshold it becomes toxic. The aim of this project is to obtain an industrial strain capable of efficiently converting methanol to a chemical compound of industrial interest. For this purpose, the methylotrophic bacteria Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 was adapted to proliferate stably in the presence of high methanol concentrations, increasing the minimum inhibitory concentration of the methanol up to 5%, following a continuous culture approach in an automaton called GM3.