Microbial degradation of polyesters.
Polyesters, such as microbially produced poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid] [poly(3HB)], other poly[(R)-hydroxyalkanoic acids] [poly(HA)] and related biosynthetic or chemosynthetic polyesters are a class of polymers that have potential applications as thermoplastic elastomers. In contrast to poly(ethylene) and similar polymers with saturated, non-functionalized carbon backbones, poly(HA) can be biodegraded to water, methane, and/or carbon dioxide. This review provides an overview of the microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of poly(HA) biodegradation. In particular, the properties of extracellular and intracellular poly(HA) hydrolyzing enzymes [poly(HA) depolymerases] are described.
Jendrossek
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Institut für Mikrobiologie der Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany. dieter.jendrossek@po.uni-stuttgart.de
D000388:Air; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008697:Methane; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
D011091:Polyesters; D012722:Sewage; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008697:Methane