Open AccessMolecular basis for biosynthesis and accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids in bacteria
Author(s) -
Steinbüchel A.,
Hustede E.,
Liebergesell M.,
Pieper U.,
Timm A.,
Valentin H.
Publication year - 1992
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.1574-6968.1992.tb05841.x
Subject(s) - bacteria , biochemistry , methylobacterium , biology , alcaligenes , biosynthesis , gene , rhodospirillum rubrum , homology (biology) , heterologous expression , methylotroph , pseudomonas , atp synthase , structural gene , mutant , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna , recombinant dna
The current knowledge on the structure and on the organization of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA)‐biosynthetic genes from a wide range of different bacteria, which rely on different pathways for biosynthesis of this storage polyesters, is provided. Molecular data will be shown for genes of Alcaligenes eutrophus , purple non‐sulfur bacteria, such as Rhodospirillum rubrum , purple sulfur bacteria, such as Chromatium vinosum , pseudomonads belonging to rRNA homology group I, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Methylobacterium extorquens , and for the Gram‐positive bacterium Rhodococcus ruber . Three different types of PHA synthases can be distinguished with respect to their substrate specificity and structure. Strategies for the cloning of PHA synthase structural genes will be outlined which are based on the knowledge of conserved regions of PHA synthase structural genes and of the PHA‐biosynthetic routes in bacteria as well as on the heterologous expression of these genes and on the availability of mutants impaired in the accumulation of PHA. In addition, a terminology for the designation of PHAs and of proteins and genes relevant for the metabolism of PHA is suggested.