Methanol dehydrogenase fusion proteins

Abstract

Described herein are fusion proteins including methanol dehydrogenase (MeDH) and at least one other polypeptide such as 3-hexulose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (HPS) or 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (PHI), such as DHAS synthase or fructose-6-Phosphate aldolase or such as DHA synthase or DHA kinase. In a localized manner, the fusion protein can promote the conversion of methanol to formaldehyde and then to a ketose phosphate such as hexulose 6-phosphate or then to DHA and G3P. When expressed in cells, the fusion proteins can promote methanol uptake and rapid conversion to the ketose phosphate or to the DHA and D3P, which in turn can be used in a pathway for the production of a desired bioproduct. Beneficially, the rapid conversion to the ketose phosphate or to the DHA and G3P can avoid the undesirable accumulation of formaldehyde in the cell. Also described are engineered cells expressing the fusion protein, optionally include one or more additional metabolic pathway transgene(s), methanol metabolic pathway genes, target product pathway genes, cell culture compositions including the cells, methods for promoting production of the target product or intermediate thereof from the cells, compositions including the target product or intermediate, and products made from the target product or intermediate.