Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Polyhydroxybutyrates”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources

Molecular cloning of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis operon from Aeromonas hydrophila and its expression in Escherichia coli.

The polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis operon was cloned from Aeromonas hydrophila CGMCC 0911. Heterogeneous expression of the cloned polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis operon in Escherichia coli resulted in accumulation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) consisting of 13.9 mol % 3-hydroxyhexanoate up to 29.2 wt % of cell dry weight when grown in lauric acid. The cell dry weight of recombinant E. coli harboring the polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis operon was improved to 1.7 g L (-1), which was much higher than that of 0.3 g L (-1) of the wild type E. coli. Coexpression of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene (yafH) from E. coli and Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene (vgb) from Vitreoscilla together with the whole A. hydrophila CGMCC 0911 polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis operon facilitated cell growth and polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation in E. coli. When yafH was coexpressed together with the polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis operon, the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) content was increased from 29.2 to 52.1 wt %, and the cell dry weight was also increased slightly from 1.70 to 1.86 g L (-1). Coexpression of vgb gene could further enhance the cell dry weight to 2.0 g L(-1) and the polyhydroxyalkanoate content to 60.7 wt %.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Contact angle, WAXS, and SAXS analysis of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers obtained via Azotobacter vinelandii UWD.

This study investigated and correlated physical properties and cell interactions of copolymers obtained by a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modulated fermentation of Azotobacter vinelandii UWD. PEGs with molecular weights of 400 and 3400 Da and di(ethylene glycol) (DEG) were used to modulate the bacterial synthesis of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). The PHB crystallinity was determined by wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) showed that lamellar distances decreased between the PHB and the PHB modulated with PEG or DEG. Furthermore, the contact angle of water on the PHB/PEG polymer surfaces decreased when compared to that of PHB. The significant decrease of the contact angle and corresponding increase in surface tension, as well as significant decrease in cell adhesion, suggest the presence of hydrophilic PEG and DEG within the hydrophobic surface.

Azotobacter vinelandii↗

Cost-effective recovery and purification of polyhydroxyalkanoates by selective dissolution of cell mass.

Highly efficient separation and purification of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from PHA-containing cell mass is essential to production of the bioplastics from renewable resources in a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way. Based on selective dissolution of non-PHA cell mass (NPCM) by protons in aqueous solution and crystallization kinetics of PHA biopolymers, a simple process is developed and demonstrated to recover PHAs from cell mass to high purity (>97 wt %) with high yield (>95 wt %). The average molecular weight of biopolyesters is controlled, which follows an exponential function of process severity, a combined factor of processing conditions. Compared with conventional chemical treatment such as sequential surfactant and hypochlorite treatment, this new technology substantially reduces the chemical cost for PHA recovery and purification from PHA-containing cell mass.

Alkalies↗

Effect of overexpression of a soluble pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase (UdhA) on the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) in Escherichia coli.

A soluble pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase (UdhA) has been used to increase the productivity and yield of PHB in vivo. By inducing a high level of UdhA, which can transfer reducing equivalents between NAD and NADP, we have increased NADPH availability, resulting in high yield and productivity of PHB in Escherichia coli. Coexpression of the phb operon from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 and the native udhA from E. coli from high copy plasmids resulted in an increase in PHB yield from 49 to 66% g of PHB per gram of total cell dry weight and an increase in final concentration from 3.52 to 6.42 g/L; the PHB concentration of the udhA carrying strain is almost twice that of the control strain expressing only the phb operon. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of cofactor manipulation and its application as a tool in metabolic engineering.

Escherichia coli↗

Growth kinetics, nutrient uptake, and expression of the Alcaligenes eutrophus poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) synthesis pathway in transgenic maize cell suspension cultures.

Transgenic suspension cultures of Black Mexican Sweet maize (Zea mays L.) expressing the Alcaligenes eutrophus genes encoding enzymes of the pathway for biosynthesis of the biodegradable polymer poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were established as a tool for investigating metabolic regulation of the PHB pathway in plant cells. Cultures were grown in a 2 L modified mammalian cell bioreactor and in shake flasks. Biomass doubling times for transgenic bioreactor cultures (3.42 +/- 0.76 days) were significantly higher than those for untransformed cultures (2.01 +/- 0.33 days). Transgenic expression of the bacterial enzymes beta-ketothiolase (0.140 units/mg protein) and acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (0.636 units/mg protein) was detected by enzyme assays and immunoblots. However, over the first 2 years of cultivation, reductase activity decreased to 0.120 units/mg proteins. Furthermore, the PHB synthase gene, although initially present, was not detectable after 1.5 years of cultivation in suspension culture. These facts suggest that transgenic expression of PHB pathway genes in plant cells may not be stable. A hydroxybutyrate derivative was detected via gas chromatography even after 4 years of cultivation. Although the method used to prepare samples for gas chromatography cannot directly distinguish among PHB polymer, hydroxybutyryl-CoA (HB-CoA), and hydroxybutyric acid, solvent washing experiments indicated that most or all of the signal was non-polymeric, presumably H-CoA. The synthesis of HB-CoA appeared to be linked to substrate growth limitation, with HB-CoA accumulation increasing dramatically and cell growth ceasing upon depletion of ammonium. This suggests that the PHB synthesis pathway in plants is subject to regulatory mechanisms similar to those in prokaryotic cells.

Alcaligenes↗

Peroxisomes as sites for synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates in transgenic plants.

Bacterial genes responsible for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) biosynthesis were targeted to plant peroxisomes by adding a carboxy-terminal targeting sequence. The enzymes evidently were transported into peroxisomes, retained their catalytic activity, and reacted with peroxisomally available precursors because PHB synthesis in transgenic plant cells was localized to peroxisomes. Up to 2 mg/g fresh weight PHB was produced in suspension cultures of Black Mexican Sweet maize cells after biolistic transformation with three peroxisomally targeted bacterial genes. An equilibrium effect is proposed to explain the unexpected existence of (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA in plant peroxisomes.

Biotechnology↗

Separation of Alcaligenes eutrophus cells containing Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) from fermentation broth with pretreatment using Al- and Fe-based coagulants.

Alcaligenes eutrophus containing intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) was recovered from fermentation broth by centrifugation and filtration after pretreatment with Al- and Fe-based coagulants. Coagulation efficiency was largely affected by pH, and the optimum pH's for cell recovery were about 4.6-5.6 for the Al-based coagulants and about 5-8 for the Fe-based coagulants. Ammonium ions that combined with metals to form complex compounds increased the coagulant requirement, and the additional requirement of coagulant was found to be proportional to the ammonium concentration. In addition, various ligands in addition to ammonium ions contained in the culture medium interfered with the coagulation reaction and increased the coagulant requirement also. The coagulant requirement increased with the cell concentration regardless of coagulant type. The polymeric coagulants such as PACS, Hi-PAX, and Ferix-3 were more effective than nonpolymeric coagulants of aluminum sulfate and ferrous sulfate. The optimum dosages of the coagulants tested were determined over a broad range of cell concentration of 20.5-210 g/L. It was observed that the energy requirement for centrifugation could be greatly reduced with cell coagulation.

Alcaligenes↗

NADH-Regulated metabolic model for growth of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Model presentation, parameter estimation, and model validation.

A biochemical model is presented that describes growth of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b on methane. The model, which was developed to compare strategies to alleviate NADH limitation resulting from cometabolic contaminant conversion, includes (1) catabolism of methane via methanol, formaldehyde, and formate to carbon dioxide; (2) growth as formaldehyde assimilation; and (3) storage material (poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid, PHB) metabolism. To integrate the three processes, the cofactor NADH is used as central intermediate and controlling factor-instead of the commonly applied energy carrier ATP. This way a stable and well-regulated growth model is obtained that gives a realistic description of a variety of steady-state and transient-state experimental data. An analysis of the cells' physiological properties is given to illustrate the applicability of the model. Steady-state model calculations showed that in strain OB3b flux control is located primarily at the first enzyme of the metabolic pathway. Since no adaptation in V(MAX) values is necessary to describe growth at different dilution rates, the organism seems to have a "rigid enzyme system", the activity of which is not regulated in response to continued growth at low rates. During transient periods of excess carbon and energy source availability, PHB is found to accumulate, serving as a sink for transiently available excess reducing power.

Biotechnology↗

Synthesis of beta-lactones: a highly active and selective catalyst for epoxide carbonylation.

A new highly active and selective catalyst for the synthesis of beta-lactones from CO and epoxides is reported. The catalyst, [(N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene) phenylenediamino)Al(THF)2][Co(CO)4] ([(salph)Al(THF)2][Co(CO)4]) is easily prepared from the corresponding (salph)AlCl and NaCo(CO)4. At 50 degrees C and 880 psi of CO, the catalyst (1 mol %) carbonylates epoxides such as propylene oxide, 1-butene oxide, epichlorohydrin, and isobutylene oxide to the lactones beta-butyrolactone, beta-valerolactone, gamma-chloro-beta-butyrolactone, and beta-methyl-beta-butyrolactone in high yield. (R)-Propylene oxide was carbonylated to (R)-beta-butyrolactone with retention of stereochemistry.

Catalysis↗

Single-site beta-diiminate zinc catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of beta-butyrolactone and beta-valerolactone to poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates).

Polymerization of beta-butyrolactone (BBL) and beta-valerolactone (BVL) using the zinc alkoxide initiator (BDI-1)ZnO(i)()Pr [(BDI-1) = 2-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)amido)-4-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino)-2-pentene] proceeds very rapidly under mild conditions to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV), respectively. For the monomer-to-initiator ratio 200:1, PHB number-average molecular weights (M(n)) are proportional to conversion throughout the reaction and polydispersity indices (PDIs) are narrow, consistent with a living polymerization. Higher monomer-to-initiator ratios can be used to achieve high molecular weight PHB (M(n) > 100 000). End-group analysis verifies that the polymerization of BBL follows a coordination-insertion mechanism, where complexes of the form (BDI-1)ZnOCH(Me)CH(2)CO(2)R are the active species. Variable temperature NMR experiments show that (BDI-1)ZnO(i)()Pr is monomeric in benzene-d(6) solution. In contrast, (BDI-2)ZnO(i)()Pr [(BDI-2) = 2-((2,6-diethylphenyl)amido)-4-((2,6-diethylphenyl)imino)-2-pentene] is a poor initiator at room temperature because it prefers to form a bis-mu-isopropoxide dimer in solution. According to kinetic studies, propagation by (BDI-1)ZnO(i)()Pr is first order in both monomer as well as (BDI-1)ZnO(i)()Pr concentration. These results lead us to propose a monometallic active species. Several results suggest that elimination side reactions are slowly catalyzed by zinc alkoxides, leading to degradation of the polymer.

4-Butyrolactone↗

Miscibility and hydrogen-bonding interactions in biodegradable polymer blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and a partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol).

Miscibility and hydrogen-bonding interactions, as well as the morphological properties, of biodegradable polymer blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and a 80% hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA80) were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that PHB is miscible with PVA80 in the amorphous phase over the whole composition range. PVA80 or PHB assumes the amorphous state when its content in the blend is lower than 30 or 20 wt %, respectively. Due to the heavy overlapping of C=O stretching bands from both PVA80 and PHB and the nonmeasurable peak shift in the OH stretching band region, hydrogen-bonding interactions between the OH group of PVA80 and the C=O group of PHB were not detectable at room temperature, but were observed at a higher temperature of 180 degrees C. This is because hydrogen-bonding interactions are promoted above the melting points of these two crystalline polymers, by increasing the mixing entropy and reducing the Deltachi effect. Blending PHB with PVA80 does not have a significant effect on the OH groups of PVA80 that are hydrogen bonded with each other. Instead, the C=O groups of PHB dispossess some of the OH groups that are hydrogen bonded to the C=O groups of PVA80, which gives rise to the miscibility between PVA80 and PHB in the amorphous phase.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Dynamic and static light scattering studies on self-aggregation behavior of biodegradable amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)-poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers in aqueous solution.

The self-aggregation behavior of two amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)-poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PHB-PEO) triblock copolymer samples with nearly identical PHB block lengths but different PEO block lengths, PEO-PHB-PEO(2000-810-2000) and PEO-PHB-PEO(5000-780-5000), was studied with dynamic and static light scattering (DLS and SLS), in combination with fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The formation of polymeric micelles by the two PEO-PHB-PEO triblock copolymers was confirmed with fluorescence technique and TEM. DLS analysis showed that the hydrodynamic radius (R(h)) of the monodistributed polymeric micelles increased with an increase in PEO block length. The relative thermostability of the triblock copolymer micelles was studied by SLS and DLS at different temperatures. The aggregation number and the ratio of the radius of gyration over hydrodynamic radius were found to be independent of temperature, probably due to the strong hydrophobicity of the PHB block. The combination of DLS and SLS studies indicated that the polymeric micelles were composed of a densely packed core of hydrophobic PHB blocks and a corona shell formed by hydrophilic PEO blocks. The aggregation numbers were found to be approximately 53 for PEO-PHB-PEO(2000-810-2000) micelles and approximately 37 for PEO-PHB-PEO(5000-780-5000) micelles. The morphology of PEO-PHB-PEO spherical micelles determined by DLS and SLS measurements was further confirmed by TEM.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Noise perturbation in functional principal component analysis filtering for two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy: its theory and application to infrared spectra of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) thin film.

A method based on noise perturbation in functional principal component analysis (NPFPCA) is for the first time introduced to overcome the noise interference problem in two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). By the systematic addition of synthetic noise to the dynamic multivariate spectral data, the functional principal component analysis (FPCA) described in this report is able to accurately determine which eigenvectors are representing significant signals instead of noise in the original data. This feature is especially useful for the data reconstruction and noise filtering. Reconstructed data resulted from the smooth eigenvectors can produce much more reliable 2D correlation spectra by removing the correlation artifacts from noise, which in turn enable more accurate interpretation of the spectral variations. The usefulness of this method is demonstrated with a theoretical framework and applications to the 2D correlation analyses of both simulated data and temperature-dependent reflection-absorption infrared spectra of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) thin film.

Absorption↗

Crystallization behaviors of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(l-lactic acid) in their immiscible and miscible blends.

By adjusting the molecular weight of the poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) component in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/PLLA blends, we investigated the crystallization behaviors of the two components in their immiscible and miscible 50:50 blends by real time infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In the immiscible PHB/PLLA blend, the stepwise crystallization of PHB and PLLA was realized at different crystallization temperatures. PLLA crystallizes first at a higher temperature (120 degrees C). Its crystallization mechanism from the immiscible PHB/PLLA melt is not affected by the presence of the PHB component, while its crystallization rate is substantially depressed. Subsequently, in the presence of crystallized PLLA, the isothermal melt-crystallization of PHB takes place at a lower temperature (90 degrees C). It is interesting to find that there are two growth stages for PHB. At the early stage of the growth period, the Avrami exponent is 5.0, which is unusually high, while in the late stage, it is 2.5, which is very close to the reported value (n approximately 2.5) for the neat PHB system. In contrast to the stepwise crystallization of PHB and PLLA in the immiscible blends, the almost simultaneous crystallization of PHB and PLLA in the miscible 50:50 blend was observed at the same crystallization temperature (110 degrees C). Detailed dynamic analysis by IR spectroscopy has disclosed that, even in such apparently simultaneous crystallization, the crystallization of PLLA actually occurs faster than that of PHB. It has been found that, both in the immiscible and miscible blends, the crystallization dynamics of PHB are heavily affected by the presence of crystallized PLLA.

Crystallization↗

Micellization phenomena of biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymers consisting of poly(beta-hydroxyalkanoic acid) and poly(ethylene oxide).

This paper reports the studies on micelle formation of new biodegradable amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)-poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PHB-PEO) triblock copolymer with various PHB and PEO block lengths in aqueous solution. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the micelles took an approximately spherical shape with the surrounding diffuse outer shell formed by hydrophilic PEO blocks. The size distribution of the micelles formed by one triblock copolymer was demonstrated by dynamic light scattering technique. The critical micellization phenomena of the copolymers were extensively studied using the pyrene fluorescence dye absorption technique, and the (0,0) band changes of pyrene excitation spectra were used as a probe for the studies. For the copolymers studied in this report, the critical micelle concentrations ranged from 1.3 x 10(-5) to 1.1 x 10(-3) g/mL. For the same PEO block length of 5000, the critical micelle concentrations decreased with an increase in PHB block length, and the change was more significant in the short PHB range. It was found that the micelle formation of the biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymers consisting of poly(beta-hydroxyalkanoic acid) and PEO was relatively temperature-insensitive, which is quite different from their counterparts consisting of poly(alpha-hydroxyalkanoic acid) and PEO.

Hydroxybutyrates↗

Pilot-scale extraction of PHB from recombinant E. coli by homogenization and centrifugation.

A new method of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) extraction from recombinant E. coli is proposed, using homogenization and centrifugation coupled with sodium hypochlorite treatment. The size of PHB granules and cell debris in homogenates was characterised as a function of the number of homogenization passes. Simulation was used to develop the PHB and cell debris fractionation system, enabling numerical examination of the effects of repeated homogenization and centrifuge-feedrate variation. The simulation provided a good prediction of experimental performance. Sodium hypochlorite treatment was necessary to optimise PHB fractionation. A PHB recovery of 80% at a purity of 96.5% was obtained with the final optimised process. Protein and DNA contained in the resultant product were negligible. The developed process holds promise for significantly reducing the recovery cost associated with PHB manufacture.

Biotechnology↗

Anaerobic degradation of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate.

The anaerobic degradation of the polyesters poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) was investigated with special regard to intermediate products, kinetics, and yields. During the degradation of PHBV acetate, propionate, n-butyrate, and n-valerate were detected. Additionally, 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate and four dimeric esters of these two molecules were identified by GC-MS measurements. Three different test systems for the anaerobic degradation of polyesters were studied. It was not possible to get reproducible results by means of the Anaerobic Sturm-test, a simple system based on carbon dioxide measurement. Secondly, a system based on the GC measurement of accumulated organic acids was investigated. A degradation of 90% in two days was calculated by a carbon balance. Best results were reached with the third test system based on the measurement of methane with a gas meter. A degradation of 99% was observed within 30 days.

Anaerobiosis↗

Degradation of microbial polyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) in environmental samples and in culture.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] test-pieces prepared from the polymer produced by Azotobacter chroococcum were degraded in natural environments like soil, water, compost and sewage sludge incubated under laboratory conditions. Degradation in terms of % weight loss of the polymer was maximum (45%) in sewage sludge after 200 days of incubation at 30 degrees C. The P(3HB)-degrading bacterial cultures (36) isolated from degraded test-pieces showed different degrees of degradation in polymer overlayer method. The extent of P(3HB) degradation increases up to 12 days of incubation and was maximum at 30 degrees C for majority of the cultures. For most efficient cultures the optimum concentration of P(3HB) for degradation was 0.3% (w/v). Supplementation of soluble carbon sources like glucose, fructose and arabinose reduced the degradation while it was almost unaffected with lactose. Though the cultures degraded P(3HB) significantly, they were comparatively less efficient in utilizing copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate [P(3HB-co-3HV)].

Arabinose↗