This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Liu, S.-J.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Liu, S.-J.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Liu, S.-J.
Right arrow Articles by Steinbüchel, A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2000, p. 739-743, Vol. 66, No. 2
0099-2240/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

A Novel Genetically Engineered Pathway for Synthesis of Poly(Hydroxyalkanoic Acids) in Escherichia coli

Shuang-Jiang Liu and Alexander Steinbüchel*

Institut für Mikrobiologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, D-48149, Münster, Germany

Received 31 August 1999/Accepted 17 November 1999

A new pathway to synthesize poly(hydroxyalkanoic acids) (PHA) was constructed by simultaneously expressing butyrate kinase (Buk) and phosphotransbutyrylase (Ptb) genes of Clostridium acetobutylicum and the two PHA synthase genes (phaE and phaC) of Thiocapsa pfennigii in Escherichia coli. The four genes were cloned into the BamHI and EcoRI sites of pBR322, and the resulting hybrid plasmid, pBPP1, conferred activities of all three enzymes to E. coli JM109. Cells of this recombinant strain accumulated PHAs when hydroxyfatty acids were provided as carbon sources. Homopolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB), or 4-hydroxyvalerate (4HV) were obtained from each of the corresponding hydroxyfatty acids. Various copolyesters of those hydroxyfatty acids were also obtained when two of these hydroxyfatty acids were fed at equal amounts: cells fed with 3HB and 4HB accumulated a copolyester consisting of 88 mol% 3HB and 12 mol% 4HB and contributing to 68.7% of the cell dry weight. Cells fed with 3HB and 4HV accumulated a copolyester consisting of 94 mol% 3HB and 6 mol% 4HV and contributing to 64.0% of the cell dry weight. Cells fed with 3HB, 4HB, and 4HV accumulated a terpolyester consisting of 85 mol% 3HB, 13 mol% 4HB, and 2 mol% 4HV and contributing to 68.4% of the cell dry weight.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 3, D-48149, Münster, Germany. Phone: 49-251-8339821. Fax: 49-251-8338388. E-mail: steinbu{at}uni-muenster.de.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2000, p. 739-743, Vol. 66, No. 2
0099-2240/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Bruland, N., Wubbeler, J. H., Steinbuchel, A. (2009). 3-Mercaptopropionate Dioxygenase, a Cysteine Dioxygenase Homologue, Catalyzes the Initial Step of 3-Mercaptopropionate Catabolism in the 3,3-Thiodipropionic Acid-degrading Bacterium Variovorax paradoxus. J. Biol. Chem. 284: 660-672 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Tessmer, N., Konig, S., Malkus, U., Reichelt, R., Potter, M., Steinbuchel, A. (2007). Heat-shock protein HspA mimics the function of phasins sensu stricto in recombinant strains of Escherichia coli accumulating polythioesters or polyhydroxyalkanoates. Microbiology 153: 366-374 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Nikel, P. I., de Almeida, A., Melillo, E. C., Galvagno, M. A., Pettinari, M. J. (2006). New Recombinant Escherichia coli Strain Tailored for the Production of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) from Agroindustrial By-Products.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 3949-3954 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Thakor, N., Lutke-Eversloh, T., Steinbuchel, A. (2005). Application of the BPEC Pathway for Large-Scale Biotechnological Production of Poly(3-Mercaptopropionate) by Recombinant Escherichia coli, Including a Novel In Situ Isolation Method. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 835-841 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»