Functionalized poly-β-hydroxxyalkanoates produced by bacteria

Abstract

The production of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates, PHAs, of the structure described, by several different bacteria when grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions on a variety of organic substrates is under study in our laboratories: Two of the bacteria investigated, when fed specific carbon substrates, have been found to be particularly capable of producing polyesters with unusual repeating units that have not been found in PHAs obtained under natural conditions; the bacteria are R. rubrum and P. oleovorans. When grown on a single carbon source, these bacteria can produce polymers containing either alkenyl, branched alkyl, bromo or phenyl groups (and others) in the R pendent groups of the polymers. Two others, Rb, sphaeroides and A. eutrophus, have been used to produce highly deuterated polymers.