Abstract
The ability of Alcaligenes eutrophus to grow and produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) on plant oils was evaluated. When olive oil, corn oil, or palm oil was fed as a sole carbon source, the wild-type strain of A. eutrophus grew well and accumulated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) homopolymer up to approximately 80% (w/w) of the cell dry weight during its stationary growth phase. In addition, a recombinant strain of A. eutrophus PHB−4 (a PHA-negative mutant), harboring a PHA synthase gene from Aeromonas caviae, was revealed to produce a random copolyester of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate from these plant oils with a high cellular content (approximately 80% w/w). The mole fraction of 3-hydroxyhexanoate units was 4–5 mol% whatever the structure of the triglycerides fed. The polyesters produced by the A. eutrophus strains from olive oil were 200–400 kDa (the number-average molecular mass). The results demonstrate that renewable and inexpensive plant oils are excellent carbon sources for efficient production of PHA using A. eutrophus strains.
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Received: 3 September 1997 / Received revision: 10 November 1997 / Accepted: 16 November 1997
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Fukui, T., Doi, Y. Efficient production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from plant oils by Alcaligenes eutrophus and its recombinant strain. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 49, 333–336 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051178
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051178