title: Physiology and molecular genetics of poly(beta-hydroxy-alkanoic acid) synthesis in Alcaligenes eutrophus.
abstract: The Alcaligenes eutrophus genes for beta-ketothiolase, NADPH-dependent acetoacetyl-CoA reductase and poly(beta-hydroxybutyric acid) synthase (PHB synthase) which comprise the three-step PHB-biosynthetic pathway, were cloned. Molecular studies revealed that these genes are organized in a single operon. The A. eutrophus PHB-biosynthetic genes are readily expressed in other bacteria, and DNA fragments harbouring the operon can be used as a cartridge to confer to other bacteria the ability to synthesize PHB from acetyl-CoA. The biochemical and physiological capabilities of A. eutrophus for the synthesis of a wide variety of polyhydroxyalkanoates are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinbüchel
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Schlegel
mesh_terms: D000102:Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000421:Alcaligenes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006880:Hydroxy Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009876:Operon; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism*; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D000102:Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase; D000217:Acyltransferases; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D006880:Hydroxy Acids; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D011091:Polyesters; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates; C023744:acetoacetyl-CoA reductase; C060970:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate polymerase