Open AccessCyclic nature of poly(3‐hydroxyalkanoate) metabolism in Alcaligenes eutrophus
Author(s) -
Doi Yoshiharu,
Segawa Atsushi,
Kawaguchi Yasushi,
Kunioka Masao
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1990.tb13856.x
Subject(s) - alcaligenes , carbon source , nitrogen , metabolism , butyric acid , chemistry , biosynthesis , degradation (telecommunications) , bacteria , biochemistry , polyhydroxybutyrate , carbon fibers , nuclear chemistry , food science , organic chemistry , biology , enzyme , materials science , telecommunications , composite number , computer science , pseudomonas , genetics , composite material
The cyclic process of biosynthesis and degradation of poly(3‐hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) was studied in Alcaligenes eutrophus under conditions of nitrogen‐limitation of growth. A. eutrophus cells, which had accumulated poly(3‐ydroxybutyrate) (PHB) of 55 wt% content within cells from butyric acid, were transferred into a nitrogen‐free medium containing pentanoic acid as the sole carbon source and cultivated at 30°C and pH 7.5. The content of PHB in A. eutrophus cells decreased with time, whereas a copolyster of 3‐hydroxybutyrate (HB) and 3‐hydroxyvalerate (HV) units, P(HB‐co‐HV), was accumulated in the presence of pentanoic acid. Conversely, when A. eutrophus cells with 50 wt% content of P(HB‐co‐56% HV) were incubated in a nitrogen‐free medium containing butyric acid, the content of P(HB‐co‐56% HV) decreased with time, whereas PHB was accumulated. These results indicate the cyclic nature of PHA metabolism in A. eutrophus under these conditions.