title: Biosynthesis and characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoates in the polysaccharide-degrading marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans ATCC 43961.
abstract: The marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans was investigated for the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), using glucose as the sole source of carbon in a two-step batch culture. In the first step the microorganism grew under nutrient balanced conditions; in the second step the cells were cultivated under limitation of nitrogen source. The biopolymer accumulated in S. degradans cells was detected by Nile red staining and FT-IR analysis. From GC-MS analysis, it was found that this strain produced a homopolymer of 3-hydroxybutyric acid. The cellular polymer concentration, its molecular mass, glass transition temperature, melting point and heat of fusion were 17.2+/-2.7% of dry cell weight, 54.2+/-0.6 kDa, 37.4+/-6.0 degrees C, 165.6+/-5.5 degrees C and 59.6+/-2.2 J g(-1), respectively. This work is the first report determining the capacity of S. degradans to synthesize PHAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, CUCEI, University of Guadalajara, Blvd. Marcelino García-Barragán 1451, 44430 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. yolacea@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: González-García
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nungaray
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Córdova
authors.forename: Orfil
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: González-Reynoso
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: Aid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atlic
authors.forename: Gerhart
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Braunegg
mesh_terms: D034241:Alteromonadaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D054813:Polyhydroxyalkanoates / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054813:Polyhydroxyalkanoates; D011134:Polysaccharides