title: Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-mercaptobutyrate) as a sulfur analogue to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB).
abstract: A hitherto unknown copolymer that contains sulfur in the backbone linking 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-mercaptobutyrate by thioester linkages, poly(3HB-co-3MB), was synthesized by the polyhydroxyalkanoate-(PHA-) accumulating bacterium Ralstonia eutropha, when 3-mercaptobutyric acid was fed as the carbon source in addition to gluconate. The chemical structure of this novel polymer was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and elemental sulfur analysis. Different poly(3HB-co-3MB) samples were isolated and characterized, and the molar 3MB fraction contributed up to 72 mol%. Regarding the chemical structure of 3-mercaptobutyrate, which is analogous to 3-hydroxybutyrate, the incorporation of this novel polymer constituent represents a second example of 3-mercaptoalkanoates that are incorporated into biopolymers by the PHA synthase of R. eutropha.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 3, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lütke-Eversloh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bergander
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luftmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinbüchel
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D002087:Butyrates / Q000737:chemistry; D020118:Cupriavidus necator / Q000378:metabolism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D002087:Butyrates; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011091:Polyesters; D013455:Sulfur; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates