Open AccessBiosynthesis of novel copolyesters containing 3‐hydroxypivalic acid by Rhodococcus ruber NCIMB 40126 and related bacteria
Author(s) -
Füchtenbusch Bernd,
Fabritius Dirk,
Wältermann Marc,
Steinbüchel Alexander
Publication year - 1998
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.1574-6968.1998.tb12845.x
Subject(s) - rhodococcus , bacteria , chemistry , copolyester , biosynthesis , mass spectrometry , substrate (aquarium) , organic chemistry , biochemistry , nuclear chemistry , enzyme , chromatography , biology , ecology , genetics , polyester
Rhodococcus ruber and related Gram‐positive bacteria synthesized and accumulated novel copolyesters containing 3‐hydroxypivalic acid as constituent if the cells were cultivated in a mineral salts medium containing 3‐hydroxypivalic acid and glucose as carbon sources. The copolyesters contributed 0.4–10% of the cellular dry mass, and they contained up to 78 mol% of 3‐hydroxypivalic acid in addition to 3‐hydroxybutyric acid and 3‐hydroxyvaleric acid; a homopolyester of 3‐hydroxypivalic acid was also synthesized under certain conditions. The presence of 3‐hydroxypivalic acid in the accumulated copolyesters was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry as well by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. This is the first time that the incorporation of 3‐hydroxypivalic acid and therefore of a hydroxyalkanoic acid with two methyl group substituents at the α‐carbon atom in a naturally occurring copolyester is reported. It indicates that 3‐hydroxypivalic acid‐coenzyme A is accepted by polyhydroxyalkanoic acid synthase as a substrate.