Abstract
The use of biodegradable polymers is one of the key solution to environmental problems and the development of biocompatible material. The impact of such a large commercial opportunity is one of the primary reasons for much interest in the field of microbial polyester, polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA). Its valuable properties of biodegradability, biocompatibility and thermoplasticity have attracted considerable commercial interest, and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] has been launched as the first market product. Recent advances in molecular genetics and microbial physiology of PHA biosynthesis have been uncovering the biosynthetic mechanics at molecular level, and extensive efforts for the developments of practical applications and cost-effective mass production of PHA will profell the commercialization of PHA towards the commodity market for biodegradable plastics. The biosynthesis of new members of PHA family with new monomer or unusual composition will also lead to the biotechnological production of tailor-made biopolymer for various applications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, A. J. and F. A. Dawes (1990) Oceucrence, metabolism, metabolic role and Industrial uses of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates.Microbiol. Rev. 54: 450–472.
Doi, Y. (1990)Microbial polyesters. VCH. New York.
Masamune, S., C. T. Walsh, A. J. Sinskey, and O. P. Peoples (1989) Poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis: mechanistic studies on the biological Claisen condensation catalyzed by β-ketoacyl thiolase.Pure & Appl. Chem. 61: 303–312.
Holmes, P. A. (1995) Applications of PHB- a microbially produced biodegradable thermoplastic.Phys. Technol. 16: 32–36.
Byrom, D. (1987) Polymer synthesis by microorganisms: technology and economics.TIBTECH. 5: 246–250.
Byrom, D. (1992) Production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate: poly-β-hydroxyvalerate copolymers.FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 103: 247–250.
Lemoigne, M. (1926) Produits de deshydration et de polymerisation de Pacide β-oxybutyric.Bull. Soc. Chim. Biol. 8: 576–579.
Davis, J. B. (1964) Cellular lipids of aNorcardia growth on propane and n-butane.Appl. Microbiol. 12: 301–304.
Wallen, L. L. and W. K. Rohwedder (1974) Poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate from activated sludge.Environ. Sci. Technol. 8: 576–579.
De Smet, M. J., G. Eggink, B. Witholt, J. Kingma, and H. Wynberg (1983) Characteriation of intracellular inclusions formed byPseudonomas oleovorans during growth on octane.J. Bacteriol. 154: 870–878.
Steinbüchel, A., and H. E. Valentin (1995) Diversity of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoic acids.FEMS Microbiol. Letters. 128: 219–228.
Brandl, H., R. A. Gross, R. W. Lenz, and R. C. Fuller (1988)Pseudomonas oleovorans as a source of poly(β-hydroxyalkanoates) for potential applications as biodegradable polyesters.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54: 1977–1982.
Lageveen, R. G., G. W. Huiseman, H. Preusting, P. Ketelaar, G. Eggink, and B. Witholt (1988) Formation of polyesters byPseudomonas oleovorans: effect of substrates on formation and composition of poly-(R)-3-hydroxyalkanoates and poly-(R)-3-hydroxyalkenoates.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 54: 2924–2932.
Haywood, G. W., A. J. Anderson, D. F. Ewing, and E. A. Dawes (1990) Accumulation of a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing primarily 3-hydroxydecanoate from simple carbohydrate substrates byPseudomonas sp. NCIMB 40135.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56: 3354–3359.
Timm, A. and A. Steinbüchel (1990) Formation of polyesters consisting of medium-chain-length 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids from gluconate byPseudomonas aeruginosa and other fluorescent pseudomonads.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56: 3360–3367.
Huijberts, G. N. M., G. Eggink, P. De Waard, G. W. Huisman, and B. Witholt (1992)Pseudomonas putida KT2442 cultivated on glucose accumulates poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) consisting of saturated and unsaturated monomers.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58: 536–544.
Lee, E. Y., S. H. Kang, S. H. Oh, A. Steinbüchel, and C. Y. Choi (1994) Biosynthesis of novel polyhydroxyalkanoates byPseudomonas sp. p. 229–231. In: W. K. Teoet al. (ed.)Better living through innovative biochemical engineering. Continental Press, Singapore.
Lee, E. Y., D. Jendrossek, A. Schimer, C. Y. Choi, and A. Steinbüchel (1995) Biosynthesis of copolyesters consisting of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and medium-chain-length 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids from 1,3-butanediol or from 3-hydroxybutyrate byPseudomonas sp. A33.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 42: 901–909.
Lee, E. Y. and C. Y. Choi (1995) Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis and its application to a screening procedure for novel bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoic acids containing long chain saturated and unsaturated monomers.J. Ferment. Bioeng. 80: 408–414.
Eggink, G., P. de Waard, and G. N. M. Huijberts (1990) Production of poly-3-hydroxyalkanoates byP. putida during growth on long-chain fatty acids. p. 441–444. In: E. A. Dawes (ed.)Novel biodegradable microbial polymers. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Dordrecht, Netherlands.
Doi, Y., M. Kunioka, Y. Nakamura, and K. Soga (1988) Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on unusual bacterial copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 4-hydroxybutyrate.Macromol. 21: 2722–2727.
Doi, Y., A. Tamaki, M. Kunioka, and K. Soga (1987) Biosynthesis of terpolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate, 3-hydroxyvalerate, and 5-hydroxyvalerate inAlcaligenes eutrophus from 5-chloropentanoic and pentanoic acids.Makromol. Chem. Rapid Commun. 8: 631–635.
Kunioka, M., Y. Nakamura, and Y. Doi (1988) New bacterial copolyesters produced inAlcaligenes eutrophus from organic acids.Polymer Commun. 29: 174–176.
Valentin, H. E., A. Schönebaum, and A. Steinbüchel (1992) Identification of 4-hydroxyvaleric acid as a constituent of biosynthetic polyhydroxyalkanoic acids from bacteria.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 36: 507–514.
Valentin, H. E., E. Y. Lee, C. Y. Choi, and A. Steinbüchel (1994) Identification of 4-hydroxyhexanoic acid as a new constituent of biosynthetic polyhydroxyalkanoic acids from bacteria.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40: 710–716.
Lee, E. Y. and C. Y. Choi (1997) Structural identification of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) containing 4-hydroxyalkanoic acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and its application to bacteria screening.Biotech. Techniques. 11: 167–171.
Fritzsche, K., R. W. Lenz, and R. C. Fuller (1990) An unusual bacterial polyester with a phenyl pendent group.Macromol. Chem. 191: 1957–1965.
Fritzsche, K., R. W. Lenz, and R. C. Fuller (1990) Bacterial polyesters containing branched poly(β-hydroxyalkanoate) units.Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 12: 92–101.
Fritzsche, K., R. W. Lenz, and R. C. Fuller (1990) Production of unsaturated polyesters byPseudomonas oleovorans.Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 12: 85–91.
Lenz, R. W., Y. B. Kim, and R. C. Fuller (1992) Production of unusual bacterial polyesters byPseudomonas oleovorans through cometabolism.FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 103: 207–214.
Valentin, H. E. and A. Steinbüchel (1994) Application of enzymatically synthesized shortchain-length hydroxy fatty acid coenzyme A thioesters for assay of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid synthase.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40: 699–709.
Dawes, E. A. and P. J. Senior (1973) Energy reserve polymers in microorganisms.Arch. Microbiol. Physiol. 14: 203–266.
Reusch, R. N. and H. L. Sadoff (1988) Putative structure and functions of a poly-β-hydroxybutyrate/calcium polyphosphate channel in bacterial plasma membranes.Proc. Natl. Sci. USA. 85: 4176–4180.
Barnard, G. N. and K. M. Sanders (1989) The poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granulein vivo.J. Biol. Chem. 24: 3286–3291.
Gerngross, T. U., P. Reilly, J. Stubbe, A. J. Sinskey, and O. P. Peoples (1993) Immunocytochemical analysis of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthase inAlcaligenes eutrophus H16: Localization of the synthase enzyme at the surface of PHB granules.J. Bacteriol. 175: 5289–5293.
Lauzier, C., J.-F. Revol, and R. H. Marchessault (1992) Topotactic crystallization of isolated poly (β-hydroxybutyrate) granules fromAlcaligenes eutrophus.FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 103: 299–310.
Shirakura, Y., T. Fukui, T. Saito, Y. Okamoto, T. Narikawa, K. Koide, K. Tomita, T. Takemasa, and S. Masamune (1986) Degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase fromAlcaligenes eutrophus T1,Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 880: 46–53.
Schimer, A., D. Jendrossek, and H. G. Schlegel (1993) Degradation of poly(3-hydroxyoctanoic acid)[P(3HO)] by bacteria: purification and properties of a P(3HO) depolymerase fromPseudomonas fluorescens GK13.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59: 1220–1227.
Gerngross, T. U., P. Reilly, J. Stubbe, A. J. Sinskey, and O. P. Peoples (1993) Immunocytochemical analysis of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthase inAlcaligenes eutrophus H16: Localization of the synthase enzyme at the surface of PHB granules.J. Bacteriol. 175: 5289–5293.
Haywood, G. W., A. J. Anderson, and E. A. Dawes (1988) Characterization of two 3-ketothiolases possessing differing substrate specificities in the polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesizing organismAlcaligenes eutrophus.FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 52: 91–96.
Steinbüchel, A. and H. G. Schlegel (1991) Physiology and molecular genetics of poly(β-hydroxyalkanoic acid) synthesis inAlcaligenes eutrophus.Molecular Microbiol. 5: 535–542.
Haywood, G. W., A. J. Anderson, L. Chu, and E. A. Dawes (1988) The role of NADH- and NADPH-linked acetoacetyl-CoA reductases in the poly-3-hydroxybutyrate synthesizing organismAlcaligenes eutrophus.FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 52: 259–264.
Haywood, G. W., A. J. Anderson, L. Chu, and E. A. Dawes (1989) The importance of PHB-synthase substrate specificity in polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis byAlcaligenes eutrophus.FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 57: 1–6.
Slater, S., T. Gallaher and D. Dennis (1992) Production of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in a recombinantEscherichia coli strain.Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58: 1089–1094.
Schubert, P., A. Steinbüchel, and H. G. Schlegel (1988) Cloning of theAlcaligenes eutrophus genes for synthesis of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) and synthesis of PHB inEscherichia coli.J. Bacteriol. 170: 5837–5847.
Peoples, O. P. and A. J. Sinskey (1989) Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis inAlcaligenes eutrophus H16: Characterization of the genes encoding β-ketothiolase and acetoacetyl-CoA reductases.J. Biol. Chem. 264: 15293–15297.
Peoples, O. P. and A. J. Sinskey (1989) Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis inAlcaligenes eutrophus H16: Identification and characterization of the PHB polymerase gene (phbC).J. Biol. Chem. 264: 15298–15303.
Schubert, P., N. Kruger, and A. Steinbüchel (1991) Molecular analysis of theAlcaligenes eutrophus poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [PHB] biosynthetic operon: identification of the N-terminus of PHB synthase and identification of the promoter.J. Bacteriol. 173: 168–175.
Steinbüchel, A., E. Hustede, M. Liebergesell, U. Pieper, A. Timm, and H. Valentin (1992) Molecular basis for biosynthesis and accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids in bacteria.FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 103: 217–230.
Huisman, G. W., E. Wonink, R. Meima, B. Katzeimer, P. Terpstre, and B. Witholt (1991) Metabolism of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) byPseudomonas oleovorans: identification and sequences of genes and function of the encoded proteins in the synthesis and degradation of PHA.J. Biol. Chem. 266: 2191–2198.
Timm, A. and A. Steinbüchel (1992) Cloning and molecular analysis of the poly(3-hydroxyalkanoic acid) gene locus ofPseudomonas aeruginosa PAO 1.Eur. J. Biochem. 209: 15–30.
Timm, A., S. Wiese, and A. Steinbüchel (1994) A general method for identification of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid genes from pseudomonads belonging to the rRNA homology group I.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40: 669–675.
Liebergesell, M., F. Mayer, and A. Steinbüchel (1993) Analysis of polyhydroxyalkanoic acidbiosynthesis genes of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria reveals synthesis of a polyester exhibiting an unusual composition.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40: 292–300.
Haywood, G. W., A. J. Anderson, D. R. Williams, and E. A. Dawes (1991) Accumulation of a poly (hydroxyalkanoate) copolymer containing primarily 3-hydroxyvalerate from simple carbohydrate substrates byRhodococcus sp. NCIMB 40126.Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 13: 83–88.
Lee, E. Y. (1995)Microbial Synthesis and Genetic Engineering for Production of Novel Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates. Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Schulz, H. and W. H. Kunau (1987) Beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids: a revised pathway.TIBS. 12: 403–406.
Lee, E. Y., W. J. Choi, A. Steinbüchel, and C. Y. Choi (1996) Cell-recycle fed-batch production of a highly unsaturated polyhydroxyalkanoate from I. 3-butanediol byPseudomonas sp. A33.J. Environ Polym. Degrad. 4: 103–112.
Anderson, A. J., D. R. Williams, B. Taidi, E. A. Dawes, and D. F. Ewing (1992) Studies on copolyester synthesis byRhodococcus ruber and factors influencing the molecular mass of polyhydroxybutyrate accumulated byMethylobacterium extorquens andAlcaligenes eutrophus.FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 103: 93–102.
Steinbüchel, A. and U. Pieper (1992) Production of a copolyester of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and 3-hydroxyvaleric acid from single unrelated carbon sources by a mutant ofAlcaligenes eutrophus.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 37: 1–6.
Lee, E. Y., S. H. Kang, and C. Y. Choi (1995) Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by newly isolatedAgrobacterium sp. SH-1 and GW-014 from structurally unrelated carbon substrates.J. Ferment. Bioeng. 79: 328–334.
Doi, Y., A. Tamaki, M. Kunioka, and Soga, K. (1987) Biosynthesis of an unusual copolyester (10 mol% 3-hydroxybutyrate and 90 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate units) inAlcaligenes eutrophus from pentanoic acids.J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 21: 1635–1636.
Doi, Y., A. Tamaki, M. Kunioka, and K. Soga (1988) Production of copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate byAlcaligenes eutrophus from butyric and pentanoic acids.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 28: 330–334.
Timm, A., D. Byrom, and A. Steinbüchel (1990) Formation of blends of various poly(3-hydroxyalkanoic acids) by a recombinant strain ofPseudomonas oleovorans.Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 33: 296–301.
Prusting, H., J. Kingma, G. Huisman, A. Steinbüchel, and B. Witholt (1992) Formation of polyester blends by a recombinant strain ofPseudomonas oleovorans: different poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) are stored in separate granules.J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 1: 11–21.
Doi, Y., Y. Kanesawa, M. Kunioka, and T. Saito (1990) Biodegradation of microbiol copolyesters: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxyvalerate).Macromol. 23: 26–31.
Inoue, Y. and N. Yoshie (1992) Structure and physical properties of bacterially synthesized polyesters.Prog. Polym. Sci. 17: 571–610.
Bluhm, T. L., G. K. Hamer, R. H. Marchessaults, C. A. Fyfe, and R. P. Veregin (1986) Isodimorphism in bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-β-hydroxyvalerate).Macromol. 19: 2871–2876.
Helmut, B., R. A. Gross, R. W. Lenz, and R. C. Fuller (1990) Plastics from bacteria and for bacteria: poly(β-hydroxyalkanoates) as natural, biocompatible, and biodegradable polyesters. p. 77–93. In: T. K. Ghoseet al. (ed.)Advances in biochemical engineering. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Hrabak, O. (1992) Industrial production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate.FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 103: 251–256.
Lee, S. Y. (1995) Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates.Biotechnol. Bioeng. 49: 1–14.
Kim, B. S., S. C. Lee, S. Y. Lee, H. N. Chang, Y. K. Chang, and S. I. Woo (1994) Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) by fed-batch culture ofAlcaligenes eutrophus with glucose concentration control.Biotechnol. Bioeng. 43: 892–898.
Lee, S. Y., H. N. Chang, and Y. K. Chang (1994) Production of poly(β-hydroxybutyric acid) by recombinantEscherichia coli.Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 721: 43–53.
Lee, S. Y., K. S. Yim, H. N. Chang, and Y. K. Chang (1994) Construction of plasmids, estimation of plasmid stability, and use of stable plasmids for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) inEscherichia coli.J. Biotechnol. 32: 203–211.
Anonymous (1992)Technology and commercial opportunities in biodegradable polymers. Bioinformation Associates. Boston.
Poirier, Y., D. Dennis, K. Klomparene, and C. Somerville (1992) Polyhydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable thermoplastic, produced in transgenic plants.Science 256: 520–523.
Poirier, Y., D. Dennis, K. Klomparene, C. Nawrath, and C. Somerville (1992) Perspectives on the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates in plants.FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 103: 237–246.
Poirier, Y., C. Nawrath, and C. Somerville (1995) Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates, a family of biodegradable plastics and elastomers, in bacteria and plants.Bio/technology 13: 142–150.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, E.Y., Choi, C.Y. Biosynthesis and biotechnological production of degradable polyhydroxyalkanoic acid. Biotechnol. Bioprocess Eng. 2, 1–10 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02932454
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02932454