Biomaterial Database

Cyclic nature of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) metabolism in Alcaligenes eutrophus. 1990

Y Doi, and A Segawa, and Y Kawaguchi, and M Kunioka

Research Laboratory of Resources Utilization, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.

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-hydroxybutyrate) (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 degrees C and pH 7.5. The content of PHB in A. eutrophus cells decreased with time, whereas a copolyester 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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009584	Nitrogen	An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D010421	Pentanoic Acids	Straight-chain CARBOXYLIC ACIDS with the general formula C5H10O2.	Acids, Pentanoic
D011091	Polyesters	Polymers of organic acids and alcohols, with ester linkages--usually polyethylene terephthalate; can be cured into hard plastic, films or tapes, or fibers which can be woven into fabrics, meshes or velours.	Polyester
D002087	Butyrates	Derivatives of BUTYRIC ACID. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxypropane structure.	Butyrate,n-Butyrate,Butanoic Acids,Butyric Acids,Acids, Butanoic,Acids, Butyric,n Butyrate
D006885	Hydroxybutyrates	Salts and esters of hydroxybutyric acid.	Hydroxybutyric Acid Derivatives,Hydroxybutyric Acids,Acid Derivatives, Hydroxybutyric
D000421	Alcaligenes	A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, motile bacteria that occur in water and soil. Some are common inhabitants of the intestinal tract of vertebrates. These bacteria occasionally cause opportunistic infections in humans.
D020148	Butyric Acid	A four carbon acid, CH3CH2CH2COOH, with an unpleasant odor that occurs in butter and animal fat as the glycerol ester.	Butanoic Acid,Butyric Acid Magnesium Salt,Butyric Acid, Sodium Salt,Magnesium Butyrate,Magnesium Dibutyrate,Sodium Butyrate,Acid, Butanoic,Acid, Butyric,Butyrate, Magnesium,Butyrate, Sodium,Dibutyrate, Magnesium