title: Polyhydroxybutyrate: an intriguing biopolymer.
abstract: The microbial polymer poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and related poly-hydroxyalkanoates, such as poly-3-hydroxyvalerate and poly-3-hydroxyoctanoate, are unique biodegradable thermoplastics of considerable commercial importance. The structure, properties and regulation of synthesis and degradation of PHB are reviewed and the microbial production of copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate, with properties varying according to copolymer composition, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Hull, U.K.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Dawes
mesh_terms: D001395:Azotobacter / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001704:Biopolymers; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000378:metabolism; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D011091:Polyesters; C052620:poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate); D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate