Accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoates by halophilic archaea isolated from traditional solar salterns of India

Extremophiles. 2013 Sep;17(5):787-95. doi: 10.1007/s00792-013-0561-5. Epub 2013 Jul 26.

Abstract

Extremely halophilic archaeal isolates obtained from brine and sediment samples of solar salterns of Goa and Tamil Nadu, India were screened for accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Seven polymer accumulating haloarchaeal strains (TN4, TN5, TN6, TN7, TN9, TN10 and BBK2) were selected based on their growth and intensity of fluorescence when grown on 20 % NaCl synthetic medium supplemented with 2 % glucose and incorporated with Nile red dye. The polymer was quantified by conversion of PHA to crotonic acid which gave a characteristic absorption maxima at 235 nm. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic characterization the cultures TN4, TN5, TN6, TN7, TN10 and BBK2 were grouped under genus Haloferax whereas isolate TN9 was grouped under the genus Halogeometricum. Growth kinetics and polymer accumulation studies revealed that the culture Halogeometricum borinquense strain TN9 accumulates PHA maximally at the mid-log phase, i.e. 5th day of growth (approx. 14 wt% PHA of CDW). Analysis of the polymer by IR, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR confirmed it to be a homopolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ecosystem*
  • Haloferax / classification
  • Haloferax / genetics
  • Haloferax / isolation & purification
  • Haloferax / metabolism*
  • India
  • Phylogeny
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates / metabolism*
  • Salinity*
  • Salt Tolerance

Substances

  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates