Dynamic investigation and modeling of the nitrogen cometabolism in Methylococcus capsulatus (
Bath) |
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| Authors: | Leander A H Petersen Christian Lieven Subir K Nandy John Villadsen Sten B Jørgensen Ib Christensen Krist V Gernaey |
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| Institution: | 1. Process and Systems Engineering Center (PROSYS), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark;2. The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark;3. Unibio A/S, Odense, Denmark;4. Center for Combustion and Harmful Emission Control (CHEC), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark |
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| Abstract: | The methanotrophic bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus is capable of assimilating methane and oxygen into protein-rich biomass, however, the diverse metabolism of the microorganism also allows for several undesired cometabolic side-reactions to occur. In this study, the ammonia cometabolism in Methylococcus capsulatus is investigated using pulse experiments. Surprisingly Methylococcus capsulatus oxidizes ammonia to nitrate through a yet unknown mechanism and fixes molecular nitrogen even at a high dissolved oxygen tension. The observed phenomena can be modeled using 14 ordinary differential equations and 18 kinetic parameters, of which 6 were revealed by Morris screening to be identifiable from the experimental data. Monte Carlo simulations showed that the model was robust and accurate even with uncertainty in the parameter values as confirmed by statistical error analysis. |
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| Keywords: | dynamic model methanotrophs methylococcus nitrogen metabolism pulse experiment single cell protein sensitivity uncertainty |
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