Altered expression of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene and its effect on poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] synthesis in recombinant Escherichia coli

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase (PhaC) from Wautersia eutropha was expressed in a wide range of production level in Escherichia coli XL1-Blue cells and its effects on PhaC activity, poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] [P(3HB)] production and its molecular weights were investigated. The production level of PhaC was controlled both by the amount of chemical inducer (isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside, IPTG) added into the medium and the use of different copy number of plasmids. In a flask experiment, as PhaC production level in the cells increased, the PhaC activity also increased in the range of low PhaC concentration. However, PhaC activity did not further increase in the range of high PhaC concentration, probably due to the formation of inclusion body in the cells. The molecular weight of P(3HB) was found to decrease with increasing PhaC activity. This trend was also verified in high cell density cultivation using 10-l jar fermentor. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the use of low copy number plasmid and appropriate induction of PhaC expression were effective in achieving both high productivity and high molecular weight of P(3HB).     

Biosynthesis and characterization of novel polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers with high elastic property by Cupriavidus necator PHB4 transformant

We attempted to synthesize novel polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) containing new 3-hydroxy-4-methylvalerate (3H4MV) monomer from the transformed strain of Cupriavidus necator PHB⁻4 harboring the PHA synthase gene of Chromobacterium sp. USM2 (phaC_Cs). Novel PHA containing SCL and MCL monomers were successfully synthesized from crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) and isocaproic acid. Results showed that P(3HB-co-1 mol% 3HV-co-3 mol% 3H4MV-co-18 mol% 3HHx) possessed higher thermal stability, higher elastomeric behavior at room temperature and higher ductility than the P(3HB-co-5 mol% 3HHx). The novel PHA film was found to possess an interesting rubber-like elasticity and flexibility property which has not been reported. The soil surface degradation study showed that the novel PHA film was degraded faster than the 3HB homopolymer and copolymer with 5 mol% of 3HHx.     

甲烷氧化菌利用甲烷生产聚羟基脂肪酸的研究进展

化学合成塑料主要来自于不可再生的化石能源,化学合成塑料的大量使用既消耗了大量能源物质,也带来了严重的环境问题。而生物合成的高分子化合物聚羟基脂肪酸,具有与合成塑料相似的物理性质,生产原料具有可再生性,同时在环境能快速降解,结构多样可以满足不同用途等多种优点,成为合成塑料最佳的替代品。甲烷氧化菌能以甲烷为唯一碳源和能源物质生长,并在细胞内合成大分子聚羟基脂肪酸。利用甲烷氧化菌转化甲烷合成聚羟基脂肪酸不仅可以大幅降低生产成本,同时也减少了温室气体的排放。本文就甲烷氧化菌合成聚羟基脂肪酸的生物代谢途径,甲烷为原料生产聚羟基脂肪酸的方法及优缺点等方面进行了分析。     

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate from sesame seed wastewater by sequencing batch reactor cultivation process of Haloferax mediterranei

Due to the high cost of bioplastic production, sesame wastewater, generated from the sesame seed hulling process, was investigated to be used as inexpensive and renewable carbon source for the production of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by extreme Haloferax mediterranei. The sesame wastewater (SWW) was hydrolyzed using different concentrations of hydrochloric acid (0.4. 1.00 and 2.00 M) at different period of times (15, 60 and 90 min). The concentration of salt (NaCl) and nitrogen source (NH₄Cl and yeast) required for H. mediterranei cells growth and the accumulation of PHA biopolymer was optimized. A maximum 0.53 g/L concentration of PHA was achieved when the SWW extract media was supplemented with 100 g/L NaCl and 6.0 g/L yeast extract. The cultivation was scaled-up using sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fermentation under non-sterile conditions. The SBR results showed that SWW needs an auxiliary carbon source to obtain high PHA production. Consequently, the system fed with SWW and glucose produced higher PHA (20.9 g/L) than the system fed with SWW.     

Molecular weight characterization of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] synthesized by genetically engineered strains of Escherichia coli

This study investigated the relationship of growth conditions, host strains and molecular weights of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] [P(3HB)] synthesized by genetically engineered Escherichia coli. Various PHA synthases belonging to types I-IV enzymes were expressed in E. coli JM109 under the same experimental conditions, and the molecular weights of the polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography. The results demonstrate that P(3HB) polymers have varied molecular weights and polydispersities dependent on the characteristics of the individual PHA synthase employed. P(3HB) with high number-average molecular weights (M_n) [(1.5-4.0) × 10⁶] and narrow polydispersities (1.6-1.8) were synthesized by PHA synthases from Ralstonia eutropha (type I), Delftia acidovorans (type I) and Allochromatium vinosum (type III). Contrary to these, P(3HB) with relatively low M_n [(0.17-0.79) × 10⁶] and broad polydispersities (2.2-9.0) were synthesized by PHA synthases from Aeromonas caviae (type I), Pseudomonas sp. 61-3 (type II) and Bacillus sp. INT005 (type IV). Furthermore, the molecular weights of P(3HB) synthesized under various culture conditions, in various hosts of E. coli and by mutants of PHA synthase were characterized. It was found that, in addition to culture pH [Kusaka et al. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 1997;47:140], other variances such as culture temperature, host strain and use of mutants are effective in changing polymer molecular weight.     

聚羧基脂肪酸酯细菌合成的生长环境依赖性

聚羟基脂肪酸酯（Ｐｏｌｙｈｙｄｒｏｘｙａｌｋａｎｏａｔｅ,ＰＨＡ）是一类由许多细菌合成的、结构多变的能量和碳源的储藏物质,为了得到能合成新型ＰＨＡ的菌种,或得到能在便宜简单碳源上合成ＰＨＡ的菌种,以我们实验室开发的傅立叶红外（ＦＴ－ＩＲ）细胞无损检测技术和常规气相色谱（ＧＣ）法对全国各地的采集的不同样品中分离的菌种进行了筛选,往往在不同的地理环境中,筛选出的菌株所合成的ＰＨＡ的单体组成不同,有以含四个或五个碳原子的短链单体ＰＨＡ（Ｓｈｏｒｔ－ｃｈａｉｎ－ｌｅｎｇｔｈＰＨＡ,ｓｃｌＰＨＡ）为主,有的以含六个到十六个碳原子的中长链单体ＰＨＡ（Ｍｅｄｉｕｍ－ｃｈａｉｎ－ｌｅｎｇｔｈＰＨＡ,ｍｃｌ ＰＨＡ）为主,在我们以六种底物为碳源培养的３７１株形态不一的菌株中,有４０％的菌可以合成ＰＨＡ,而其中许多可以同时合成ＰＨ     

聚羟基脂肪酸酯细菌合成的生长环境依赖性

聚羟基脂肪酸酯 (Polyhydroxyalkanoate,PHA)是一类由许多细菌合成的、结构多变的能量和碳源的储藏物质 .为了得到能合成新型PHA的菌种 ,或得到能在便宜简单碳源上合成PHA的菌种 ,以我们实验室开发的傅立叶红外 (FT IR)细胞无损检测技术和常规气相色谱 (GC)法对全国各地的采集的不同样品中分离的菌种进行了筛选 .往往在不同的地理环境中 ,筛选出的菌株所合成的PHA的单体组成不同 ,有的以含四个或五个碳原子的短链单体PHA(Short chain lengthPHA ,sclPHA)为主 ,有的以含六个到十六个碳原子的中长链单体PHA(Medium chain lengthPHA ,mclPHA)为主 .在我们以六种底物为碳源培养的 371株形态不一的菌株中 ,有 40 %的菌可以合成PHA ,而其中许多可以同时合成PHB与中长链PHA共混的聚合物 .本研究为进行PHA研究的高分子同行提供了寻找能合成PHA的微生物菌种的依据     

Synthesis of α,β- and β-Unsaturated Acids and Hydroxy Acids by Tandem Oxidation,Epoxidation, and Hydrolysis/Hydrogenation of Bioethanol Derivatives

We report a reaction platform for the synthesis of three different high-value specialty chemical building blocks starting from bio-ethanol, which might have an important impact in the implementation of biorefineries. First, oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde generates an aldehyde-containing stream active for the production of C₄ aldehydes via base-catalyzed aldol-condensation. Then, the resulting C₄ adduct is selectively converted into crotonic acid via catalytic aerobic oxidation (62 % yield). Using a sequential epoxidation and hydrogenation of crotonic acid leads to 29 % yield of β-hydroxy acid (3-hydroxybutanoic acid). By controlling the pH of the reaction media, it is possible to hydrolyze the oxirane moiety leading to 21 % yield of α,β-dihydroxy acid (2,3-dihydroxybutanoic acid). Crotonic acid, 3-hydroxybutanoic acid, and 2,3-dihydroxybutanoic acid are archetypal specialty chemicals used in the synthesis of polyvinyl-co-unsaturated acids resins, pharmaceutics, and bio-degradable/ -compatible polymers, respectively.     

Characterization of biosynthesized P(3HB-co-3HA)s swellable in organic solvents

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers consisting of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and medium-chain-length (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoate (3HA), P(3HB-co-3HA), are usually solved in chloroform. However, we found that some of the P(3HB-co-3HA) aged for more than 1 month under ambient conditions were not solved in chloroform, but instead swelled when the 3HA fraction was over 14 mol%. On the basis of differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle x-ray diffraction analyses, we predicted that swellable P(3HB-co-3HA) contained numerous P(3HB) microcrystals, which may form physical crosslinks between adjacent PHA polymer chains.     

Isolation of polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria from a polluted soil and characterization of the isolated strain Bacillus cereus YB-4

We describe the characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing bacteria isolated from an ammunition-polluted soil in Kitakyushu City, Japan. Over 270 strains were evaluated for PHA accumulation based on a colony staining method using Nile red. Of these, nine strains were selected based on the intensity of Nile red fluorescence and the cells were quantitatively analyzed for PHA by gas chromatography. PHA accumulation was observed in five strains, all of which are inferred to be close to the Bacillus cereus group according to 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Interestingly, these strains produced a PHA copolymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrae-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)], with a 3HV fraction up to 2 mol% with glucose as a carbon source. Further characterization was performed on one isolate, B. cereus YB-4. Gel permeation chromatography analysis revealed that the number of average molecular weights of PHA accumulated in B. cereus YB-4 drastically changed from 722,000 to 85,000 over a 72-h cultivation period. Furthermore, the PHA synthase genes were cloned and the deduced amino acid sequences were determined. This study provides new insights into PHA biosynthesis by members of the B. cereus group.