Expression of polyhydroxyalkanoic-acid-biosynthesis genes in methylotrophic bacteria relying on the ribulose monophosphate pathway

Abstract

Four representatives of methylotrophic bacteria relying on the ribulose monophosphate (RMP) pathway were investigated for their capability to synthesize polyhydroxyalkanoic acids (PHA). In Methylophilus methylotrophus B115, Methylobacillus glycogenes strains B121 and B53 and Acetobacter methanolicus B58 no \-ketothiolase, acetoacetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) reductase or PHA synthase could be detected, and hybridization experiments using heterologous DNA probes derived from PHA-biosynthesis genes of Methylobacterium extorquens or Alcaligenes eutrophus gave no evidence for the presence of the corresponding genes in these PHA-negative methylotrophic bacteria. Fragments harbouring a cluster of PHA-biosynthesis genes of A. eutrophus or Chromatium vinosum or isolated PHA synthase structural genes of M. extorquens, Rhodospirillum rubrum or Rhodobacter sphaeroides were mobilized into the RMP pathway bacteria mentioned above. Only transconjugants, which harboured the PHA-biosynthesis genes of A. eutrophus or C. vinosum, expressed active \-ketothiolase, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase and PHA synthase and accumulated poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB). Highest amounts of PHB (up to 15% of the cellular dry weight) were accumulated in transconjugants of Methylophilus methylotrophus B115 or of Methylobacillus glycogenes strains B121 and B53 harbouring the PHA-biosynthesis genes of C. vinosum.