Characterization of two 3-ketothiolases possessing differing substrate specificities in the polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesizing organismAlcaligenes eutrophus

Genetic characterization of a novel Salinicola salarius isolate applied for the bioconversion of agro-industrial wastes into polyhydroxybutyrate

BACKGROUND

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has emerged as a promising eco-friendly alternative to traditional petrochemical-based plastics. In the present study, we isolated and characterized a new strain of Salinicola salarius, a halophilic bacterium, from the New Suez Canal in Egypt and characterized exclusively as a potential PHB producer. Further genome analysis of the isolated strain, ES021, was conducted to identify and elucidate the genes involved in PHB production.

RESULTS

Different PHB-producing marine bacteria were isolated from the New Suez Canal and characterized as PHB producers. Among the 17 bacterial isolates, Salinicola salarius ES021 strain showed the capability to accumulate the highest amount of PHB. Whole genome analysis was implemented to identify the PHB-related genes in Salinicola salarius ES021 strain. Putative genes were identified that can function as phaCAB genes to produce PHB in this strain. These genes include fadA, fabG, and P3W43_16340 (encoding acyl-CoA thioesterase II) for PHB production from glucose. Additionally, phaJ and fadB were identified as key genes involved in PHB production from fatty acids. Optimization of environmental factors such as shaking rate and incubation temperature, resulted in the highest PHB productivity when growing Salinicola salarius ES021 strain at 30°C on a shaker incubator (110 rpm) for 48 h. To maximize PHB production economically, different raw materials i.e., salted whey and sugarcane molasses were examined as cost-effective carbon sources. The PHB productivity increased two-fold (13.34 g/L) when using molasses (5% sucrose) as a fermentation media. This molasses medium was used to upscale PHB production in a 20 L stirred-tank bioreactor yielding a biomass of 25.12 g/L, and PHB of 12.88 g/L. Furthermore, the produced polymer was confirmed as PHB using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Herein, Salinicola salarius ES021 strain was demonstrated as a robust natural producer of PHB from agro-industrial wastes. The detailed genome characterization of the ES021 strain presented in this study identifies potential PHB-related genes. However, further metabolic engineering is warranted to confirm the gene networks required for PHB production in this strain. Overall, this study contributes to the development of sustainable and cost-effective PHB production strategies.

Impact of various β-ketothiolase genes on PHBHHx production in Cupriavidus necator H16 derivatives

Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate] (PHBHHx) is a type of biopolyester of the polyhydroxyalkanoate group (PHA). Due to a wide range of properties resulting from the alteration of the (R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) composition, PHBHHx is getting a lot of attention as a substitute to conventional plastic materials for various applications. Cupriavidus necator H16 is the most promising PHA producer and has been genetically engineered to produce PHBHHx efficiently for many years. Nevertheless, the role of individual genes involved in PHBHHx biosynthesis is not well elaborated. C. necator H16 possesses six potential physiologically active β-ketothiolase genes identified by transcriptome analysis, i.e., phaA, bktB, bktC (h16_A0170), h16_A0462, h16_A1528, and h16_B0759. In this study, we focused on the functionality of these genes in vivo in relation to 3HHx monomer supply. Gene deletion experiments identified BktB and H16_A1528 as important β-ketothiolases for C6 metabolism in β-oxidation. Furthermore, in the bktB/h16_A1528 double-deletion strain, the proportion of 3HHx composition of PHBHHx produced from sugar was very low, whereas that from plant oil was significantly higher. In fact, the proportion reached 36.2 mol% with overexpression of (R)-specifc enoyl-CoA hydratase (PhaJ) and PHA synthase. Furthermore, we demonstrated high-density production (196 g/L) of PHBHHx with high 3HHx (32.5 mol%) by fed-batch fermentation with palm kernel oil. The PHBHHx was amorphous according to the differential scanning calorimetry analysis. KEY POINTS: • Role of six β-ketothiolases in PHBHHx biosynthesis was investigated in vivo. • Double-deletion of bktB/h16_A1528 results in high 3HHx composition with plant oil. • Amorphous PHBHHx with 32.5 mol% 3HHx was produced in high density by jar fermenter.

Metabolic circuits and gene regulators in polyhydroxyalkanoate producing organisms: Intervention strategies for enhanced production

Worldwide worries upsurge concerning environmental pollutions triggered by the accumulation of plastic wastes. Biopolymers are promising candidates for resolving these difficulties by replacing non-biodegradable plastics. Among biopolymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), are natural polymers that are synthesized and accumulated in a range of microorganisms, are considered as promising biopolymers since they have biocompatibility, biodegradability, and other physico-chemical properties comparable to those of synthetic plastics. Consequently, considerable research have been attempted to advance a better understanding of mechanisms related to the metabolic synthesis and characteristics of PHAs and to develop native and recombinant microorganisms that can proficiently produce PHAs comprising desired monomers with high titer and productivity for industrial applications. Recent developments in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology applied to enhance PHA synthesis include, promoter engineering, ribosome-binding site (RBS) engineering, development of synthetic constructs etc. This review gives a brief overview of metabolic routes and regulators of PHA production and its intervention strategies.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate-associated phasins as phylogenetically heterogeneous, multipurpose proteins

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural polyesters of increasing biotechnological importance that are synthesized by many prokaryotic organisms as carbon and energy storage compounds in limiting growth conditions. PHAs accumulate intracellularly in form of inclusion bodies that are covered with a proteinaceous surface layer (granule-associated proteins or GAPs) conforming a network-like surface of structural, metabolic and regulatory polypeptides, and configuring the PHA granules as complex and well-organized subcellular structures that have been designated as 'carbonosomes'. GAPs include several enzymes related to PHA metabolism (synthases, depolymerases and hydroxylases) together with the so-called phasins, an heterogeneous group of small-size proteins that cover most of the PHA granule and that are devoid of catalytic functions but nevertheless play an essential role in granule structure and PHA metabolism. Structurally, phasins are amphiphilic proteins that shield the hydrophobic polymer from the cytoplasm. Here, we summarize the characteristics of the different phasins identified so far from PHA producer organisms and highlight the diverse opportunities that they offer in the Biotechnology field.

The transcriptional regulator NtrC controls glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase expression and polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis through NADPH availability in Herbaspirillum seropedicae

The NTR system is the major regulator of nitrogen metabolism in Bacteria. Despite its broad and well-known role in the assimilation, biosynthesis and recycling of nitrogenous molecules, little is known about its role in carbon metabolism. In this work, we present a new facet of the NTR system in the control of NADPH concentration and the biosynthesis of molecules dependent on reduced coenzyme in Herbaspirillum seropedicae SmR1. We demonstrated that a ntrC mutant strain accumulated high levels of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), reaching levels up to 2-fold higher than the parental strain. In the absence of NtrC, the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (encoded by zwf) increased by 2.8-fold, consequently leading to a 2.1-fold increase in the NADPH/NADP⁺ ratio. A GFP fusion showed that expression of zwf is likewise controlled by NtrC. The increase in NADPH availability stimulated the production of polyhydroxybutyrate regardless the C/N ratio in the medium. The mutant ntrC was more resistant to H₂O₂ exposure and controlled the propagation of ROS when facing the oxidative condition, a phenotype associated with the increase in PHB content.

Polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhydroxydodecanoate produced by Burkholderia contaminans IPT553

AIMS

In this paper, we introduce a new Burkholderia contaminans capable of producing a newly characterized polymer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

CG-MS and magnetic nuclear resonance ¹ H and ¹³ C were used to determine the constitution of polymers produced in glucose, glucose with casein, sucrose and sucrose with casein. Three pairs of primers were used to find the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) synthase class and sequence. The synthesized polymers were composed by short-chain length PHA (scl-PHA), especially polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and medium chain length PHA (mcl-PHA), especially polyhydroxydodecanoate (PHDd), and their concentration, constitution and molecular weight depend on carbon source used. The bacterium showed only class I synthase which could not explain the mcl-PHA production.

CONCLUSIONS

Burkholderia contaminans has a class I PHA synthase and produces PHB combined to PHDd when cultivated in sucrose or glucose, and PHDd concentration is affected when casein is used.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

PHA are natural polymers produced by a wide range of bacteria. The presence of PHDd monomers confers to the polymer elastomeric properties. Previously, PHDd was only obtained when bacteria were cultivated in related carbon source. In this work, B. contaminansIPT553 produced PHB with PHDd using simple and low-cost carbon sources that can make possible the cheaper production of a more flexible biopolymer with crystallinity and elasticity different from the more common PHAs.

Global changes in the proteome of Cupriavidus necator H16 during poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate) synthesis from various biodiesel by-product substrates

Synthesis of poly-[3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) by Cupriavidus necator H16 in batch cultures was evaluated using three biodiesel-derived by-products as the sole carbon sources: waste glycerol (REG-80, refined to 80 % purity with negligible free fatty acids); glycerol bottom (REG-GB, with up to 65 % glycerol and 35 % free fatty acids), and free fatty acids (REG-FFA, with up to 75 % FFA and no glycerol). All the three substrates supported growth and PHB production by C. necator, with polymer accumulation ranging from 9 to 84 % cell dry weight (cdw), depending on the carbon source. To help understand these differences, proteomic analysis indicated that although C. necator H16 was able to accumulate PHB during growth on all three biodiesel by-products, no changes in the levels of PHB synthesis enzymes were observed. However, significant changes in the levels of expression were observed for two Phasin proteins involved with PHB accumulation, and for a number of gene products in the fatty acid β-oxidation pathway, the Glyoxylate Shunt, and the hydrogen (H2) synthesis pathways in C. necator cells cultured with different substrates. The glycerol transport protein (GlpF) was induced in REG-GB and REG-80 glycerol cultures only. Cupriavidus necator cells cultured with REG-GB and REG-FFA showed up-regulation of β-oxidation and Glyoxylate Shunt pathways proteins at 24 h pi, but H2 synthesis pathways enzymes were significantly down-regulated, compared with cells cultured with waste glycerol. Our data confirmed earlier observations of constitutive expression of PHB synthesis proteins, but further suggested that C. necator H16 cells growing on biodiesel-derived glycerol were under oxidative stress.

The use of an acetoacetyl-CoA synthase in place of a β-ketothiolase enhances poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production in sugarcane mesophyll cells

Engineering the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) into high biomass bioenergy crops has the potential to provide a sustainable supply of bioplastics and energy from a single plant feedstock. One of the major challenges in engineering C4 plants for the production of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) is the significantly lower level of polymer produced in the chloroplasts of mesophyll (M) cells compared to bundle sheath (BS) cells, thereby limiting the full PHB yield-potential of the plant. In this study, we provide evidence that the access to substrate for PHB synthesis may limit polymer production in M chloroplasts. Production of PHB in M cells of sugarcane is significantly increased by replacing β-ketothiolase, the first enzyme in the bacterial PHA pathway, with acetoacetyl-CoA synthase. This novel pathway enabled the production of PHB reaching an average of 6.3% of the dry weight of total leaf biomass, with levels ranging from 3.6 to 11.8% of the dry weight (DW) of individual leaves. These yields are more than twice the level reported in PHB-producing sugarcane containing the β-ketothiolase and illustrate the importance of producing polymer in mesophyll plastids to maximize yield. The molecular weight of the polymer produced was greater than 2 × 10(6)  Da. These results are a major step forward in engineering a high biomass C4 grass for the commercial production of PHB.

(S)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase/enoyl-CoA hydratase (FadB') from fatty acid degradation operon of Ralstonia eutropha H16

In this study (S)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase/enoyl-CoA hydratase (H16_A0461/FadB’, gene ID: 4247876) from one of two active fatty acid degradation operons of Ralstonia eutropha H16 has been heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, purified as protein possessing a His-Tag and initially characterized. FadB’ is an enzyme with two catalytic domains exhibiting a single monomeric structure and possessing a molecular weight of 86 kDa. The C-terminal part of the enzyme harbors enoyl-CoA hydratase activity and is able to convert trans-crotonyl-CoA to 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. The N-terminal part of FadB’ comprises an NAD⁺ binding site and is responsible for 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity converting (S)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA. Enoyl-CoA hydratase activity was detected spectrophotometrically with trans-crotonyl-CoA. (S)-3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity was measured in both directions with acetoacetyl-CoA and 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. FadB’ was found to be strictly stereospecific to (S)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA and to prefer NAD⁺. The K_m value for acetoacetyl-CoA was 48 μM and V_max 149 μmol mg⁻¹ min⁻¹. NADP(H) was utilized at a rate of less than 10% in comparison to activity with NAD(H). FadB’ exhibited optimal activity at pH 6–7 and the activity decreased at alkaline and acidic pH values. Acetyl-CoA, propionyl-CoA and CoA were found to have an inhibitory effect on FadB’. This study is a first report on biochemical properties of purified (S)-stereospecific 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase/enoyl-CoA hydratase with the inverted domain order from R. eutropha H16. In addition to fundamental information about FadB’ and fatty acid metabolism, FadB’ might be also interesting for biotechnological applications.

A closer look on the polyhydroxybutyrate- (PHB-) negative phenotype of Ralstonia eutropha PHB-4

The undefined poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)- (PHB-) negative mutant R. eutropha PHB^-4 was generated in 1970 by 1-nitroso-3-nitro-1-methylguanidine (NMG) treatment. Although being scientific relevant, its genotype remained unknown since its isolation except a recent first investigation. In this study, the mutation causing the PHA-negative phenotype of R. eutropha PHB^-4 was confirmed independently: sequence analysis of the phaCAB operon identified a G320A mutation in phaC yielding a stop codon, leading to a massively truncated PhaC protein of 106 amino acids (AS) in R. eutropha PHB^-4 instead of 589 AS in the wild type. No other mutations were observed within the phaCAB operon. As further mutations probably occurred in the genome of mutant PHB^-4 potentially causing secondary effects on the cells' metabolism, the main focus of the study was to perform a 2D PAGE-based proteome analysis in order to identify differences in the proteomes of the wild type and mutant PHB^-4. A total of 20 differentially expressed proteins were identified which provide valuable insights in the metabolomic changes of mutant PHB^-4. Besides excretion of pyruvate, mutant PHB^-4 encounters the accumulation of intermediates such as pyruvate and acetyl-CoA by enhanced expression of the observed protein species: (i) ThiJ supports biosynthesis of cofactor TPP and thereby reinforces the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes as PDHC, ADHC and OGDHC in order to convert pyruvate at a higher rate and the (ii) 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase LeuB3 apparently directs pyruvate to synthesis of several amino acids. Different (iii) acylCoA-transferases enable transfer reactions between organic acid intermediates, and (iv) citrate lyase CitE4 regenerates oxaloacetate from citrate for conversion with acetyl-CoA in the TCC in an anaplerotic reaction. Substantial amounts of reduction equivalents generated in the TCC are countered by (v) synthesis of more ubiquinones due to enhanced synthesis of MenG2 and MenG3, thereby improving the respiratory chain which accepts electrons from NADH and succinate.

Cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and X-ray crystallographic analysis of β-ketothiolase B from Ralstonia eutropha H16

Polyhydroxyalkanoates are linear polyesters that are produced by bacterial fermentation and are used as biodegradable bioplastics. β-Ketothiolase B (BktB) from Ralstonia eutropha (ReBktB) is a key enzyme for the production of various types of copolymers by catalyzing the condensation reactions of acetyl-CoA with propionyl-CoA and butyryl-CoA. The ReBktB protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method in the presence of 25% polyethylene glycol 3350, 0.1 M bis-tris pH 6.5, 0.2 M lithium sulfate at 295 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to a maximum resolution of 2.3 Å on a synchrotron beamline. The crystal belonged to space group C2221, with unit-cell parameters a = 106.95, b = 107.24, c = 144.14 Å. With two molecules per asymmetric unit, the crystal volume per unit protein weight (VM) is 2.54 Å(3) Da(-1), which corresponds to a solvent content of approximately 51.5%. The structure was solved by the molecular-replacement method and refinement of the structure is in progress.

Phosphorus limitation strategy to increase propionic acid flux towards 3-hydroxyvaleric acid monomers in Cupriavidus necator

Properties of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (P(3HB-co-3HV)) depend on their 3HV content. 3HV can be produced by Cupriavidus necator from propionic acid. Few studies explored carbon distribution and dynamics of 3HV and 3HB monomers production, and none of them have been done with phosphorus as limiting nutrient. In this study, fed-batch cultures of C. necator with propionic acid, as sole carbon source or mixed with butyric acid, were performed. Phosphorus deficiency allowed sustaining 3HV production rate and decreasing 3HB production rate, leading to an instant production of up to 100% of 3HV. When a residual growth is sustained by a phosphorus feeding, the maximum 3HV percentage produced from propionic acid is limited to 33% (Mole.Mole(-1)). The association of a second carbon source like butyric acid lead to higher conversion of propionic acid into 3HV. This study showed the importance of the limiting nutrient and of the culture strategy to get the appropriate product.

Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) from glucose with elevated 3-hydroxyvalerate fraction via combined citramalate and threonine pathway in Escherichia coli

The biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers in Escherichia coli from unrelated carbon sources becomes attractive nowadays. We previously developed a poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerte) (PHBV) biosynthetic pathway from an unrelated carbon source via threonine metabolic route in E. coli (Chen et al., Appl Environ Microbiol 77:4886-4893, 2011). In our study, a citramalate pathway was introduced in recombinant E. coli by cloning a cimA gene from Leptospira interrogans. By blocking the pyruvate and the propionyl-CoA catabolism and replacing the β-ketothiolase gene, the PHBV with 11.5 mol% 3HV fraction was synthesized. Further, the combination of citramalate pathway with the threonine biosynthesis pathway improved the 3HV fraction in PHBV copolymer to 25.4 mol% in recombinant E. coli.

Characterization of propionate CoA-transferase from Ralstonia eutropha H16

In this study, a propionate CoA-transferase (H16_A2718; EC 2.8.3.1) from Ralstonia eutropha H16 (Pct(Re)) was characterized in detail. Glu342 was identified as catalytically active amino acid residue via site-directed mutagenesis. Activity of Pct(Re) was irreversibly lost after the treatment with NaBH₄ in the presence of acetyl-CoA as it is shown for all CoA-transferases from class I, thereby confirming the formation of the covalent enzyme-CoA intermediate by Pct(Re). In addition to already known CoA acceptors for Pct Re such as 3-hydroxypropionate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, acrylate, succinate, lactate, butyrate, crotonate and 4-hydroxybutyrate, it was found that glycolate, chloropropionate, acetoacetate, valerate, trans-2,3-pentenoate, isovalerate, hexanoate, octanoate and trans-2,3-octenoate formed also corresponding CoA-thioesters after incubation with acetyl-CoA and Pct(Re). Isobutyrate was found to be preferentially used as CoA acceptor amongst other carboxylates tested in this study. In contrast, no products were detected with acetyl-CoA and formiate, bromopropionate, glycine, pyruvate, 2-hydroxybutyrate, malonate, fumarate, itaconate, β-alanine, γ-aminobutyrate, levulate, glutarate or adipate as potential CoA acceptor. Amongst CoA donors, butyryl-CoA, crotonyl-CoA, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, isobutyryl-CoA, succinyl-CoA and valeryl-CoA apart from already known propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA could also donate CoA to acetate. The highest rate of the reaction was observed with 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA (2.5 μmol mg⁻¹ min⁻¹). K(m) values for propionyl-CoA, acetyl-CoA, acetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate were 0.3, 0.6, 4.5 and 4.3 mM, respectively. The rather broad substrate range might be a good starting point for enzyme engineering approaches and for the application of Pct(Re) in biotechnological polyester production.

Implications of various phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system mutations on glycerol utilization and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) accumulation in Ralstonia eutropha H16

The enhanced global biodiesel production is also yielding increased quantities of glycerol as main coproduct. An effective application of glycerol, for example, as low-cost substrate for microbial growth in industrial fermentation processes to specific products will reduce the production costs for biodiesel. Our study focuses on the utilization of glycerol as a cheap carbon source during cultivation of the thermoplastic producing bacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16, and on the investigation of carbohydrate transport proteins involved herein. Seven open reading frames were identified in the genome of strain H16 to encode for putative proteins of the phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PEP-PTS). Although the core components of PEP-PTS, enzyme I (ptsI) and histidine phosphocarrier protein (ptsH), are available in strain H16, a complete PTS-mediated carbohydrate transport is lacking. Growth experiments employing several PEP-PTS mutants indicate that the putative ptsMHI operon, comprising ptsM (a fructose-specific EIIA component of PTS), ptsH, and ptsI, is responsible for limited cell growth and reduced PHB accumulation (53%, w/w, less PHB than the wild type) of this strain in media containing glycerol as a sole carbon source. Otherwise, the deletion of gene H16_A0384 (ptsN, nitrogen regulatory EIIA component of PTS) seemed to largely compensate the effect of the deleted ptsMHI operon (49%, w/w, PHB). The involvement of the PTS homologous proteins on the utilization of the non-PTS sugar alcohol glycerol and its effect on cell growth as well as PHB and carbon metabolism of R. eutropha will be discussed.

Versatile metabolic adaptations of Ralstonia eutropha H16 to a loss of PdhL, the E3 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

A previous study reported that the Tn5-induced poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB)-leaky mutant Ralstonia eutropha H1482 showed a reduced PHB synthesis rate and significantly lower dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DHLDH) activity than the wild-type R. eutropha H16 but similar growth behavior. Insertion of Tn5 was localized in the pdhL gene encoding the DHLDH (E3 component) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC). Taking advantage of the available genome sequence of R. eutropha H16, observations were verified and further detailed analyses and experiments were done. In silico genome analysis revealed that R. eutropha possesses all five known types of 2-oxoacid multienzyme complexes and five DHLDH-coding genes. Of these DHLDHs, only PdhL harbors an amino-terminal lipoyl domain. Furthermore, insertion of Tn5 in pdhL of mutant H1482 disrupted the carboxy-terminal dimerization domain, thereby causing synthesis of a truncated PdhL lacking this essential region, obviously leading to an inactive enzyme. The defined ΔpdhL deletion mutant of R. eutropha exhibited the same phenotype as the Tn5 mutant H1482; this excludes polar effects as the cause of the phenotype of the Tn5 mutant H1482. However, insertion of Tn5 or deletion of pdhL decreases DHLDH activity, probably negatively affecting PDHC activity, causing the mutant phenotype. Moreover, complementation experiments showed that different plasmid-encoded E3 components of R. eutropha H16 or of other bacteria, like Burkholderia cepacia, were able to restore the wild-type phenotype at least partially. Interestingly, the E3 component of B. cepacia possesses an amino-terminal lipoyl domain, like the wild-type H16. A comparison of the proteomes of the wild-type H16 and of the mutant H1482 revealed striking differences and allowed us to reconstruct at least partially the impressive adaptations of R. eutropha H1482 to the loss of PdhL on the cellular level.

Impact of multiple beta-ketothiolase deletion mutations in Ralstonia eutropha H16 on the composition of 3-mercaptopropionic acid-containing copolymers

beta-Ketothiolases catalyze the first step of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [poly(3HB)] synthesis in bacteria by condensing two molecules of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) to acetoacetyl-CoA. Analyses of the genome sequence of Ralstonia eutropha H16 revealed 15 isoenzymes of PhaA in this bacterium. In this study, we generated knockout mutants of various phaA homologues to investigate their role in and contributions to poly(3HB) metabolism and to suppress biosynthesis of 3HB-CoA for obtaining enhanced molar 3-mercaptopriopionate (3MP) contents in poly(3HB-co-3MP) copolymers when cells were grown on gluconate plus 3-mercaptopropionate or 3,3'-dithiodipropionate. In silico sequence analysis of PhaA homologues, transcriptome data, and other aspects recommended the homologues phaA, bktB, H16_A1713/H16_B1771, H16_A1528, H16_B1369, H16_B0381, and H16_A0170 for further analysis. Single- and multiple-deletion mutants were generated to investigate the influence of these beta-ketothiolases on growth and polymer accumulation. The deletion of single genes resulted in no significant differences from the wild type regarding growth and polymer accumulation during cultivation on gluconate or gluconate plus 3MP. Deletion of phaA plus bktB (H16Delta2 mutant) resulted in approximately 30% less polymer accumulation than in the wild type. Deletion of H16_A1713/H16_B1771, H16_A1528, H16_B0381, and H16_B1369 in addition to phaA and bktB gave no differences in comparison to the H16Delta2 mutant. In contrast, deletion of H16_A0170 additionally to phaA and bktB yielded a mutant which accumulated about 30% poly(3HB) (wt/wt of the cell dry weight [CDW]). Although we were not able to suppress poly(3HB) biosynthesis completely, the copolymer compositions could be altered significantly with a lowered percentage ratio of 3HB constituents (from 85 to 52 mol%) and an increased percentage ratio of 3MP constituents (from 15 to 48 mol%), respectively. In this study, we demonstrated that PhaA, BktB, and H16_A0170 are majorly involved in poly(3HB) synthesis in R. eutropha H16. A fourth beta-ketothiolase or a combination of several of the other beta-ketothiolases contributed to a maximum of only 30% (wt/wt of CDW) of the remaining (co)polymer.

Genome-wide transcriptome analyses of the ‘Knallgas’ bacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16 with regard to polyhydroxyalkanoate metabolism

Ralstonia eutropha H16 is probably the best-studied ‘Knallgas’ bacterium and producer of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). Genome-wide transcriptome analyses were employed to detect genes that are differentially transcribed during PHB biosynthesis. For this purpose, four transcriptomes from different growth phases of the wild-type H16 and of the two PHB-negative mutants PHB−4 and ΔphaC1 were compared: (i) cells from the exponential growth phase with cells that were in transition to stationary growth phase, and (ii) cells from the transition phase with cells from the stationary growth phase of R. eutropha H16, as well as (iii) cells from the transition phase of R. eutropha H16 with those from the transition phase of R. eutropha PHB−4 and (iv) cells from the transition phase of R. eutropha ΔphaC1 with those from the transition phase of R. eutropha PHB−4. Among a large number of genes exhibiting significant changes in transcription level, several genes within the functional class of lipid metabolism were detected. In strain H16, phaP3, accC2, fabZ, fabG and H16_A3307 exhibited a decreased transcription level in the stationary growth phase compared with the transition phase, whereas phaP1, H16_A3311, phaZ2 and phaZ6 were found to be induced in the stationary growth phase. Compared with PHB−4, we found that phaA, phaB1, paaH1, H16_A3307, phaP3, accC2 and fabG were induced in the wild-type, and phaP1, phaP4, phaZ2 and phaZ6 exhibited an elevated transcription level in PHB−4. In strain ΔphaC1, phaA and phaB1 were highly induced compared with PHB−4. Additionally, the results of this study suggest that mutant strain PHB−4 is defective in PHB biosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism. A significant downregulation of the two cbb operons in mutant strain PHB−4 was observed. The putative polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase phaC2 identified in strain H16 was further investigated by several functional analyses. Mutant PHB−4 could be phenotypically complemented by expression of phaC2 from a plasmid; on the other hand, in the mutant H16ΔphaC1, no PHA production was observed. PhaC2 activity could not be detected in any experiment.

Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by high cell density fed-batch culture of Alcaligenes eutrophus with phospate limitation

High cell density fed-batch fermentation of Alcaligenes eutrophus was carried out for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in a 60-L fermentor. During the fermentation, pH was controlled with NH(4)OH solution and PHB accumulation was induced by phosphate limitation instead of nitrogen limitation. The glucose feeding was controlled by monitoring dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and glucose concentration in the culture broth. The glucose concentration fluctuated within the range of 0-20 g/L. We have investigated the effect of initial phosphate concentration on the PHB production when the initial volume was fixed. Using an initial phosphate concentration of 5.5 g/L, the fed-batch fermentation resulted in a final cell concentration of 281 g/L, a PHB concentration of 232 g/L, and a PHB productivity of 3.14 g/L . h, which are the highest values ever reported to date. In this case, PHB content, cell yield from glucose, and PHB yield from glucose were 80, 0.46, and 0.38% (w/w), respectively.

Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoates (HAs) synthesized by numerous bacteria as intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds and accumulated as granules in the cytoplasm of cells. More than 80 HAs have been detected as constituents of PHAs, which allows these thermoplastic materials to have various mechanical properties resembling hard crystalline polymer or elastic rubber depending on the incorporated monomer units. Even though PHAs have been recognized as good candidates for biodegradable plastics, their high price compared with conventional plastics has limited their use in a wide range of applications. A number of bacteria including Alcaligenes eutrophus, Alcaligenes latus, Azotobacter vinelandii, methylotrophs, pseudomonads, and recombinant Escherichia coli have been employed for the production of PHAs, and the productivity of greater than 2 g PHA/L/h has been achieved. Recent advances in understanding metabolism, molecular biology, and genetics of the PHA-synthesizing bacteria and cloning of more than 20 different PHA biosynthesis genes allowed construction of various recombinant strains that were able to synthesize polyesters having different monomer units and/or to accumulate much more polymers. Also, genetically engineered plants harboring the bacterial PHA biosynthesis genes are being developed for the economical production of PHAs. Improvements in fermentation/separation technology and the development of bacterial strains or plants that more efficiently synthesize PHAs will bring the costs down to make PHAs competitive with the conventional plastics.

FadD from Pseudomonas putida CA-3 is a true long-chain fatty acyl coenzyme A synthetase that activates phenylalkanoic and alkanoic acids

A fatty acyl coenzyme A synthetase (FadD) from Pseudomonas putida CA-3 is capable of activating a wide range of phenylalkanoic and alkanoic acids. It exhibits the highest rates of reaction and catalytic efficiency with long-chain aromatic and aliphatic substrates. FadD exhibits higher k(cat) and K(m) values for aromatic substrates than for the aliphatic equivalents (e.g., 15-phenylpentadecanoic acid versus pentadecanoic acid). FadD is inhibited noncompetitively by both acrylic acid and 2-bromooctanoic acid. The deletion of the fadD gene from P. putida CA-3 resulted in no detectable growth or polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) accumulation with 10-phenyldecanoic acid, decanoic acid, and longer-chain substrates. The results suggest that FadD is solely responsible for the activation of long-chain phenylalkanoic and alkanoic acids. While the CA-3DeltafadD mutant could grow on medium-chain substrates, a decrease in growth yield and PHA accumulation was observed. The PHA accumulated by CA-3DeltafadD contained a greater proportion of short-chain monomers than did wild-type PHA. Growth of CA-3DeltafadD was unaffected, but PHA accumulation decreased modestly with shorter-chain substrates. The complemented mutant regained 70% to 90% of the growth and PHA-accumulating ability of the wild-type strain depending on the substrate. The expression of an extra copy of fadD in P. putida CA-3 resulted in increased levels of PHA accumulation (up to 1.6-fold) and an increase in the incorporation of longer-monomer units into the PHA polymer.

Ralstonia eutropha H16 flagellation changes according to nutrient supply and state of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) accumulation

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE), in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight analysis, and the recently revealed genome sequence of Ralstonia eutropha H16 were employed to detect and identify proteins that are differentially expressed during different phases of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) metabolism. For this, a modified protein extraction protocol applicable to PHB-harboring cells was developed to enable 2D PAGE-based proteome analysis of such cells. Subsequently, samples from (i) the exponential growth phase, (ii) the stationary growth phase permissive for PHB biosynthesis, and (iii) a phase permissive for PHB mobilization were analyzed. Among several proteins exhibiting quantitative changes during the time course of a cultivation experiment, flagellin, which is the main protein of bacterial flagella, was identified. Initial investigations that report on changes of flagellation for R. eutropha were done, but 2D PAGE and electron microscopic examinations of cells revealed clear evidence that R. eutropha exhibited further significant changes in flagellation depending on the life cycle, nutritional supply, and, in particular, PHB metabolism. The results of our study suggest that R. eutropha is strongly flagellated in the exponential growth phase and loses a certain number of flagella in transition to the stationary phase. In the stationary phase under conditions permissive for PHB biosynthesis, flagellation of cells admittedly stagnated. However, under conditions permissive for intracellular PHB mobilization after a nitrogen source was added to cells that are carbon deprived but with full PHB accumulation, flagella are lost. This might be due to a degradation of flagella; at least, the cells stopped flagellin synthesis while normal degradation continued. In contrast, under nutrient limitation or the loss of phasins, cells retained their flagella.

Enzyme-catalyzed poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) synthesis from acetate with CoA recycling and NADPH regeneration in Vitro

We established a novel enzyme-catalyzed poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] synthesis system capable of recycling CoA on the basis of the P(3HB) biosynthetic pathway in Ralstonia eutropha. The system includes purified beta-ketothiolase (PhaA), NADPH-dependent acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (PhaB), PHA synthase (PhaC), acetyl-CoA synthetase (Acs) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH). In this system, acetyl-CoA was synthesized from acetate and CoA by Acs and ATP, and then two molecules of acetyl-CoA were condensed by PhaA to synthesize acetoacetyl-CoA, which was converted to (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA (3HBCoA) by PhaB and NADPH. The 3HBCoA was polymerized by PhaC and converted to P(3HB). In this system, the CoA molecules that were released during the condensation and polymerization reactions catalyzed by PhaA and PhaC, respectively, were reused successfully for the synthesis of acetyl-CoA. In addition, NADPH, which was consumed in the reduction of acetoacetyl-CoA, was regenerated by the action of GDH. In this system, the yield of P(3HB) synthesized from acetate as the substrate was 5.6 mg in a 5-ml reaction mixture, and the weight-average molecular weight and polydispersity were 6.64 x 10(6) and 1.36, respectively. Furthermore, CoA was reused at least 26 times, and NADPH was also regenerated at least 26 times during 24 h of reaction.

Isolation and Structure Determination of Complexed Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) from Beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Complexed poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s (cPHAs), one of two types of natural PHAs, occur in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes as a complex with biomacromolecules and could be involved in various physiological functions. In this study, a cPHA-component derived from a complex with calcium polyphosphate was isolated from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and determined to be a homopolymer composed of 3-hydroxybutyrate. MALDI MS provided the number-average molecular weight (Mn = 9,124 Da) and polydispersity index (PDI = 1.01), showing that beet cPHA has a slightly lower molecular mass than the known Escherichia coli cPHA. In addition, the structural analysis of both end groups showed that (i) 100 mol-% of the carboxyl end is free, while about 30 mol-% of the hydroxyl end is free and about 70 mol-% masked and (ii) the end hydroxyl group is masked by at least six identified short-chain alkanoic and alkanedioic acids. Based on such end-group characteristics, the polymerization mechanism of beet cPHA is discussed.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) granule-associated proteins: impacts on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) synthesis and degradation

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent a group of biopolymers that are synthesized by many bacteria as storage compounds and deposited as insoluble cytoplasmic inclusions. Because they have many putative technical and medical applications, PHAs may play an important role in human life in the future. Therefore, for academic interest the bacterial PHA metabolism has been studied in much detail. In the past decade much new and unexpected information about the metabolism of PHA in bacteria became available. Aspects of the biogenesis of PHA granules in bacteria become more and more important in the literature. Several enzymes, proteins, and mechanisms of regulation are involved in PHA biosynthesis and PHA granule biogenesis. The intention of this review is to give an overview about our current knowledge of the structure of the PHA granule surface and the PHA granule-associated proteins involved in biogenesis and degradation. The focus is on the PHA synthases, the intracellular PHA depolymerases, the phasins, and the transcriptional regulator PhaR, which are the main actors in biosynthesis and intracellular degradation of PHAs and formation of PHA granules. In addition, putative applications of PHA granules and PHA granule-associated proteins in nanotechnology are discussed.

Bacterial Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) as a Source of Chiral Hydroxyalkanoic Acids

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are polyesters of various hydroxyalkanoates accumulated in numerous bacteria. All of the monomeric units of PHA are enantiomerically pure and in R-configuration. R-Hydroxyalkanoic acids can be widely used as chiral starting materials in fine chemical, pharmaceutical and medical industries. In this study, we established an efficient method for the production of chiral hydroxyalkanoic acid monomers from PHA. Pseudomonas putida cells containing PHA were resuspended in phosphate buffer at different pH. We observed that the optimal initial pH for intracellular PHA degradation and monomer release was at pH 8-11 with pH 11 as the best. At initial pH 11, PHA containing 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid and 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid was degraded with an efficiency of over 90% (w/w) in 9 h, and the yield of the corresponding monomers was also over 90%. Under the same conditions, unsaturated monomers were also effectively produced from PHA containing 3-hydroxy-6-heptenoic acid, 3-hydroxy-8-nonenoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-10-undecenoic acid. The monomers (e.g., 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid) were further isolated using solid phase extraction and purified on reversed phase semipreparative liquid chromatography. We confirmed that the purified 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid monomer has exclusively the R-configuration.

Influence of homologous phasins (PhaP) on PHA accumulation and regulation of their expression by the transcriptional repressor PhaR in Ralstonia eutropha H16

Phasins play an important role in the formation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [poly(3HB)] granules and affect their size. Recently, three homologues of the phasin protein PhaP1 were identified inRalstonia eutrophastrain H16. The functions of PhaP2, PhaP3 and PhaP4 were examined by analysis ofR. eutrophaH16 deletion strains (ΔphaP1, ΔphaP2, ΔphaP3, ΔphaP4, ΔphaP12, ΔphaP123and ΔphaP1234). When cells were grown under conditions permissive for poly(3HB) accumulation, the wild-type strain and all single-phasin negative mutants (ΔphaP2, ΔphaP3and ΔphaP4), with the exception of ΔphaP1, showed similar growth and poly(3HB) accumulation behaviour, and also the size and number of the granules were identical. The single ΔphaP1mutant and the ΔphaP12, ΔphaP123and ΔphaP1234mutants showed an almost identical growth behaviour; however, they accumulated poly(3HB) at a significantly lower level than wild-type and the single ΔphaP2, ΔphaP3or ΔphaP4mutants. Gel-mobility-shift assays and DNaseI footprinting experiments demonstrated the capability of the transcriptional repressor PhaR to bind to a DNA region +36 to +46 bp downstream of thephaP3start codon. The protected sequence exhibited high similarity to the binding sites of PhaR upstream ofphaP1, which were identified recently. In contrast, PhaR did not bind to the upstream or intergenic regions ofphaP2andphaP4, thus indicating that the expression of these two phasins is regulated in a different way. Our current model for the regulation of phasins inR. eutrophastrain H16 was extended and confirmed.

A thermostable #x003B2;-ketothiolase of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in Thermus thermophilus: Purification and biochemical properties

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoates (HAs) synthesised by numerous bacteria as intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds which accumulate as granules in the cytoplasm of the cells. The biosynthesis of PHAs, in the thermophilic bacterium T. thermophilus grown in a mineral medium supplemented with sodium gluconate as sole carbon source has been recently reported. Here, we report the purification at apparent homogeneity of a beta-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase from T. thermophilus, the first enzyme of the most common biosynthetic pathway for PHAs. B-Ketoacyl-CoA thiolase appeared as a single band of 45.5-kDa molecular mass on SDS/PAGE. The enzyme was purified 390-fold with 7% recovery. The native enzyme is a multimeric protein of a molecular mass of approximately of 182 kDa consisting of four identical subunits of 45.5 kDa, as identified by an in situ renaturation experiment on SDS-PAGE. The enzyme exhibited an optimal pH of approximately 8.0 and highest activity at 65 degrees C for both direction of the reaction. The thiolysis reaction showed a substrate inhibition at high concentrations; when one of the substrates (acetoacetyl CoA or CoA) is varied, while the concentrations of the second substrates (CoA or acetoacetyl CoA respectively) remain constant. The initial velocity kinetics showed a pattern of a family of parallel lines, which is in accordance with a ping-pong mechanism. beta-Ketothiolase had a relative low Km of 0.25 mM for acetyl-CoA and 11 microM and 25 microM for CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA, respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by treatment with 1 mM N-ethylmaleimide either in the presence or in the absence of 0.5 mM of acetyl-CoA suggesting that possibly a cysteine is located at/or near the active site of beta-ketothiolase.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) biosynthesis in the biofilm of Alcaligenes eutrophus, using glucose enzymatically released from pulp fiber sludge

Glucose, enzymatically released from pulp fiber sludge, was combined with inorganic salts and used as a growth medium for Alcaligenes eutrophus, a gram-negative strain producing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). By controlling the concentrations of the inorganic salts in the growth medium, almost 78% of the cell mass was converted to pure PHB. Efforts were made to find conditions for bacterial growth in the form of a biofilm on a cheap and reusable carrier. A number of positively charged carriers were tested, and the anion exchanger DEAE-Sephadex A-25 was chosen as a microcarrier for packed-bed biofilm cultures of A. eutrophus. Conditions for attachment, growth, and detachment were established. Biofilm formation on the microcarrier is strongly dependent on the ionic strength of the attachment medium. In order to achieve formation of the biofilm and its recovery from the microcarrier, the ionic strengths of the attachment and the detachment media were varied. Low ionic strength was tested for attachment, and high ionic strength was tested for detachment. Although biofilm formation in the packed-bed reactor is limited, the volumetric yield of cells based on the void volume of the packed bed is comparable with the batch culture yield.

Degradation of aromatics and chloroaromatics by Pseudomonas sp. strain B13: purification and characterization of 3-oxoadipate:succinyl-coenzyme A (CoA) transferase and 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase

The degradation of 3-oxoadipate in Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 was investigated and was shown to proceed through 3-oxoadipyl-coenzyme A (CoA) to give acetyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA. 3-Oxoadipate:succinyl-CoA transferase of strain B13 was purified by heat treatment and chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose, Mono-Q, and Superose 6 gels. Estimation of the native molecular mass gave a value of 115,000 +/- 5,000 Da with a Superose 12 column. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions resulted in two distinct bands of equal intensities. The subunit A and B values were 32,900 and 27,000 Da. Therefore it can be assumed that the enzyme is a heterotetramer of the type A2B2 with a molecular mass of 120,000 Da. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of both subunits are as follows: subunit A, AELLTLREAVERFVNDGTVALEGFTHLIPT; subunit B, SAYSTNEMMTVAAARRLKNGAVVFV. The pH optimum was 8.4. Km values were 0.4 and 0.2 mM for 3-oxoadipate and succinyl-CoA, respectively. Reversibility of the reaction with succinate was shown. The transferase of strain B13 failed to convert 2-chloro- and 2-methyl-3-oxoadipate. Some activity was observed with 4-methyl-3-oxoadipate. Even 2-oxoadipate and 3-oxoglutarate were shown to function as poor substrates of the transferase. 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase was purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, blue 3GA, and reactive brown-agarose. Estimation of the native molecular mass gave 162,000 +/- 5,000 Da with a Superose 6 column. The molecular mass of the subunit of the denatured protein, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was 42 kDa. On the basis of these results, 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase should be a tetramer of the type A4. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase was determined to be SREVYI-DAVRTPIGRFG. The pH optimum was 7.8. Km values were 0.15 and 0.01 mM for 3-oxoadipyl-CoA and CoA, respectively. Sequence analysis of the thiolase terminus revealed high percentages of identity (70 to 85%) with thiolases of different functions. The N termini of the transferase subunits showed about 30 to 35% identical amino acids with the glutaconate-CoA transferase of an anaerobic bacterium but only an identity of 25% with the respective transferases of aromatic compound-degrading organisms was found.

Physiology, regulation, and limits of the synthesis of poly(3HB)

The properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) combined with the fact that it can be produced easily by numerous prokaryotes from renewable resources and even from potentially toxic waste products using well-known fermentation processes have generated keen interest in this biopolyester as a substitute for chemo-synthetic petroleum-derived polymers in many applications. However, the high price of poly(3HB) compared with the conventional synthetic materials currently in use has restricted its availability in a wide range of applications. If the economic viability of poly(3HB) production and its competitiveness are to be improved, more must be found out about the phenotypic optimization and the upper limits of bacterial systems as the factory of poly(3HB). In this chapter, two aspects of poly(3HB) are reviewed--poly(3HB) formation as a physiological response to external limitations and overcoming internal bottlenecks, and poly(3HB) as a commercially attractive polyester. From a physiological viewpoint, the ability to synthesize and degrade poly(3HB) is considered an investment in the future and provides organisms with a selective advantage. Poly(3HB) is presented as a strategic survival polymer, and it is shown that growth-associated synthesis is not as rare as reported. The influence of the efficiency and velocity of cell multiplication and product formation, of poly(3HB) content and of productivity on the overall yield, and finally on the economics of the whole process are discussed and evaluated from the technological or consumer's point of view. The specific production rate and poly(3HB) content appear to be more important than the yield coefficients.

Biochemical and molecular basis of microbial synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates in microorganisms

Intensive research on the physiology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics of the metabolism of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) during the last 15 years has revealed a dramatic increase of our knowledge on the biosynthesis of these polyesters in bacteria. This mainly very basic research has revealed several new, hitherto not described enzymes and pathways. In addition, many genes encoding the enzymes of these pathways and in particular the key enzyme of PHA biosynthesis, PHA synthase, were cloned and characterized at a molecular level. This knowledge was utilized to establish PHA biosynthesis in many prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, which were unable to synthesize PHAs, and to apply the methodology of metabolic engineering, thus opening new perspectives for the production of various PHAs by fermentation biotechnology or agriculture in economically feasible processes. This contribution summarizes the properties of PHA synthases and gives an overview on the genes for these enzymes and other enzymes of PHA biosynthesis that have been cloned and are available. It also summarizes our current knowledge on the regulation at the enzyme and gene level of PHA biosynthesis in bacteria.

Metabolic modeling as a tool for evaluating polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer production in plants

The production of polyhydroxyalkanoates in plants is an interesting commercial prospect due to lower carbon feedstock costs and capital investments. The production of poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate) has already been successfully demonstrated in plant plastids, and the production of more complex polymers is under investigation. Using a mathematical simulation model this paper outlines the theoretical prospects of producing the copolymer poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-3HV)] in plant plastids. The model suggests that both the 3HV/3HB ratio and the copolymer production rate will vary considerably between dark and light conditions. Using metabolic control analysis we predict that the beta-ketothiolase predominately controls the copolymer production rate, but that the activity of all three enzymes influence the copolymer ratio. Dynamic simulations further suggest that controlled expression of the three enzymes at different levels may enable desirable changes in both the copolymer production rate and the 3HV/3HB ratio. Finally, we illustrate that natural variations in substrate and cofactor levels may have a considerable impact on both the production rate and the copolymer ratio, which must be taken into account when constructing a production system.

Properties and biodegradability of ultra-high-molecular-weight poly[(R)-hydroxybutyrate] produced by a recombinant Escherichia coli

Ultra-high-molecular-weight poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (P(3HB)) (Mw = 3-11 x 10(6)) was produced from glucose by a recombinant Escherichia coli XL1-Blue (pSYL105) harboring Ralstonia eutropha H16 polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis genes. Morphology of ultra-high-molecular-weight P(3HB) granules in the recombinant cells was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The recombinant E. coli contained several P(3HB) granules within a cell. Freeze-fracture morphology of ultra-high-molecular-weight P(3HB) granules showed the needle-type as that of P(3HB) granules in R. eutropha. Both the P(3HB) granules in wet cells and wet native granules isolated from the recombinant cells proved to be amorphous on the X-ray diffraction patterns. Mechanical properties of ultra-high-molecular-weight P(3HB) films were markedly improved by stretching over 400%, resulting from high crystallinity and highly oriented crystal regions. Biodegradability of the films of ultra-high-molecular-weight P(3HB) was tested with an extracellular polyhydroxybutyrate depolymerase from Alcaligenes faecalis T1. The rate of enzymatic erosion of P(3HB) films was not dependent of the molecular weight but was dependent of the crystallinity. In addition, it is demonstrated that all ultra-high-molecular-weight P(3HB) films were completely degraded at 25 degrees C in a natural river freshwater within 3 weeks.

Chain termination in polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis: involvement of exogenous hydroxy-compounds as chain transfer agents

We have identified a range of compounds which, when present during poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] accumulation by Ralstonia eutropha (reclassified from Alcaligenes eutrophus), can act as chain transfer agents in the chain termination step of polymerization. End-group analysis by 31P NMR of polymer derivatized with 2-chloro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane revealed that all these compounds were covalently linked to P(3HB) at the carboxyl terminus. All chain transfer agents possessed one or more hydroxyl groups, and glycerol was selected for further investigation. The number-average molecular mass (Mn) of P(3HB) produced by R. eutropha from glycerol was substantially lower than for polymer produced from glucose, and we identified two new end-group structures. These were attributed to a glycerol molecule bound to the P(3HB) chain via the primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. When a primary hydroxyl group of glycerol is involved in chain transfer, the end-group structure is in both [R] and [S] configurations, implying that chain transfer to glycerol is a random transesterification and that PHA synthase does not catalyse chain transfer. 3-Hydroxybutyric acid is the most probable chain transfer agent in vivo, with propagation and termination reactions involving transfer of the P(3HB) chain to enzyme-bound and free 3-hydroxybutyrate, respectively. Only carboxyl end-groups were detected in P(3HB) extracted from exponentially growing bacteria. It is proposed that a compound other than 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA acts as a primer in the initiation of polymer synthesis.

Extracellular polymerization of 3-hydroxyalkanoate monomers with the polymerase of Alcaligenes eutrophus

Previous investigations on the role of the polymerase in the synthesis of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) are reviewed, and the results from earlier in vitro studies on the activity and selectivity of the polymerase of Alcaligenes eutrophus are discussed. In the present study the effect of glycerol on stabilizing the polymerase after purification and on eliminating the lag phase in in vitro polymerization reactions of 3-hydroxybutyl CoA (HBCoA), and 3-hydroxyvaleryl CoA (HVCoA) are described. K(M) values were determined for the activity of the polymerase with both HBCoA and HVCoA, and the rates of propagation for both monomers were estimated. With a racemic mixture of HBCoA, the enzyme polymerized only the [R] monomer.