Fed-batch production of unsaturated medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates with controlled composition by Pseudomonas putida KT2440

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2009 Mar;82(4):657-62. doi: 10.1007/s00253-008-1785-7. Epub 2008 Dec 3.

Abstract

Unsaturated medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (MCL-PHA) were produced at a productivity of 0.63-1.09 g PHA l(-1) h(-1) with final PHA content ranging from 42.6 to 55.8% in single-stage, carbon-limited, fed-batch fermentations of Pseudomonas putida KT2440. A mixture of nonanoic acid (NA) and 10-undecenoic acid (UDA=) was fed exponentially to control growth rate. Varying the specific growth rate (0.14 h(-1) vs. 0.23 h(-1)) at similar substrate feed ratios (NA:UDA= = 5:1) had little effect on the final PHA content and relative composition. However, decreasing the NA:UDA= ratio decreased the final amount of PHA produced from 56% with NA:UDA= = 5.07:1 to only 42% at NA:UDA= = 2.47:1. The molar fraction of all 3-hydroxyalkanoate monomers in the PHA product was relatively constant throughout each fermentation, indicating that the final product was homogeneous rather than a mixture of different copolymers. A linear relationship between unsaturation of the PHA produced and unsaturation of the carbon feed was found, which demonstrates the feasibility of producing unsaturated MCL-PHAs with controlled polymeric composition in a fed-batch process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bioreactors / microbiology*
  • Culture Media / chemistry*
  • Culture Media / metabolism
  • Fermentation
  • Kinetics
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates / chemistry
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates / metabolism*
  • Pseudomonas putida / chemistry
  • Pseudomonas putida / growth & development
  • Pseudomonas putida / metabolism*

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates