Signal sequences useful for targeting proteins and peptides to the surface of endospores produced by Paenibacillus family members and methods of using the same are provided. The display of heterologous molecules, such as peptides, polypeptides and other recombinant constructs, on the spore surface of Paenibacillus family members, using particular N-terminal targeting sequences and derivatives of the same, are also provided.

Genetically modified microorganisms that have the ability to convert carbon substrates into chemical products such as isobutanol are disclosed. For example, genetically modified methanotrophs that are capable of generating isobutanol at high titers from a methane source are disclosed. Methods of making these genetically modified microorganisms and methods of using them are also disclosed.

Genetically modified microorganisms that have the ability to convert carbon substrates into chemical products such as 2,3-BDO are disclosed. For example, genetically modified methanotrophs that are capable of generating 2,3-BDO at high titers from a methane source are disclosed. Methods of making these genetically modified microorganisms and methods of using them are also disclosed.

The present invention discloses a bacterium and an obtaining method and application thereof. The bacterium has a property of coproducing 1,3-propanediol and D-lactic acid. Further, the bacterium is Klebsiella oxytoca, including Klebsiella oxytoca PDL-5 CCTCC M 2016185. The obtaining method of the bacterium may be to obtain the bacterium by directly screening wild bacteria that satisfy conditions from the environment or performing gene engineering modification to wild bacteria. The present invention has the advantages that the bacteria can coproduce 1,3-propanediol and D-lactic acid through fermentation, the molar conversion rate and the concentration of the two products are very high, the types of byproducts are few, the concentration is low, the product extraction process is simplified, the high-efficiency biological production of 1,3-propanediol and D-lactic acid can be realized, and the industrial application prospect is very great.

Genetically modified microorganisms that have the ability to convert carbon substrates into chemical products such as 2,3-BDO; 1,4-BDO; isobutyraldehyde; isobutanol; 1-butanol; n-butanol; ethanol; fatty alcohols; and fatty acid methyl ester are disclosed. For example, genetically modified methanotrophs that are capable of generating 2,3-BDO; 1,4-BDO; isobutyraldehyde; isobutanol; 1-butanol; n-butanol; ethanol; fatty alcohols; and fatty acid methyl ester at high titers from a methane source are disclosed. Methods of making these genetically modified microorganisms and methods of using them are also disclosed. These microorganisms and methods make use of molecular switches to regulate gene expression.

The present invention discloses a bacterium and an obtaining method and application thereof. The bacterium has a property of coproducing 1,3-propanediol and D-lactic acid. Further, the bacterium is Klebsiella oxytoca, including Klebsiella oxytoca PDL-5 CCTCC M 2016185. The obtaining method of the bacterium may be to obtain the bacterium by directly screening wild bacteria that satisfy conditions from the environment or performing gene engineering modification to wild bacteria. The present invention has the advantages that the bacteria can coproduce 1,3-propanediol and D-lactic acid through fermentation, the molar conversion rate and the concentration of the two products are very high, the types of byproducts are few, the concentration is low, the product extraction process is simplified, the high-efficiency biological production of 1,3-propanediol and D-lactic acid can be realized, and the industrial application prospect is very great.

Multi-carbon compounds such as ethanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, fatty (or aliphatic long chain) alcohols, fatty acid methyl esters, 2,3-butanediol and the like, are important industrial commodity chemicals with a variety of applications. The present invention provides metabolically engineered host microorganisms which metabolize methane (CH.sub.4) as their sole carbon source to produce multi-carbon compounds for use in fuels (e.g., bio-fuel, bio-diesel) and bio-based chemicals. Furthermore, use of the metabolically engineered host microorganisms of the invention (which utilize methane as the sole carbon source) mitigate current industry practices and methods of producing multi-carbon compounds from petroleum or petroleum-derived feedstocks, and ameliorate much of the ongoing depletion of arable food source “farmland” currently being diverted to grow bio-fuel feedstocks, and as such, improve the environmental footprint of future bio-fuel, bio-diesel and bio-based chemical compositions.

Genetically modified microorganisms that have the ability to convert carbon substrates into multicarbon products. Methods of making these genetically modified microorganisms and methods of using them. Vectors encoding enzymes for use in converting carbon substrates into multicarbon products.

In a method for producing acetoin, butanediol, or butanol from ethanol according to the present invention, a cell-free catalysis method was used by designing an artificial synthetic pathway so that proteins of NOX, EtDH, FLS, BDH, and DDH and variant proteins thereof exhibit cascade catalytic activity as enzymes. Compared to existing fermentation methods using microorganisms, the production method according to the present invention does not require cell growth and has a short synthetic pathway, a fast reaction rate, high yield and productivity, adjustment of targeted reaction conditions is convenient, and butanol may be effectively produced. Moreover, same may be reused numerous times by fixing the proteins to nano-particles, and are also effective for producing acetoin, butanediol, or butanol, thus being economical. Therefore, the production method may be usefully adopted in the relevant industries requiring acetoin, butanediol, or butanol.

Genetically modified microorganisms that have the ability to convert carbon substrates into chemical products such as 2,3-BDO; 1,4-BDO; isobutyraldehyde; isobutanol; 1-butanol; n-butanol; ethanol; fatty alcohols; and fatty acid methyl ester are disclosed. For example, genetically modified methanotrophs that are capable of generating 2,3-BDO; 1,4-BDO; isobutyraldehyde; isobutanol; 1-butanol; n-butanol; ethanol; fatty alcohols; and fatty acid methyl ester at high titers from a methane source are disclosed. Methods of making these genetically modified microorganisms and methods of using them are also disclosed. These microorganisms and methods make use of molecular switches to regulate gene expression.