title: A holistic view of polyhydroxyalkanoate metabolism in Pseudomonas putida.
abstract: Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) metabolism has been traditionally considered as a futile cycle involved in carbon and energy storage. The use of cutting-edge technologies linked to systems biology has improved our understanding of the interaction between bacterial physiology, PHA metabolism and other cell functions in model bacteria such as Pseudomonas putida KT2440. PHA granules or carbonosomes are supramolecular complexes of biopolyester and proteins that are essential for granule segregation during cell division, and for the functioning of the PHA metabolic route as a continuous cycle. The simultaneous activities of PHA synthase and depolymerase ensure the carbon flow to the transient demand for metabolic intermediates to balance the storage and use of carbon and energy. PHA cycle also determines the number and size of bacterial cells. The importance of PHAs as nutrients for members of the microbial community different to those that produce them is illustrated here via examples of bacterial predators such as Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus that prey on PHA producers and produces specific extra-cellular depolymerases. PHA hydrolysis confers Bdellovibrio ecological advantages in terms of motility and predation efficiency, demonstrating the importance of PHA producers predation in population dynamics. Metabolic modulation strategies for broadening the portfolio of PHAs are summarized and their properties are compiled.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: Auxiliadora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Escapa
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dinjaski
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herencias
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de la Peña
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tarazona
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Revelles
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001501:Bdellovibrio / Q000378:metabolism*; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D054813:Polyhydroxyalkanoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054813:Polyhydroxyalkanoates; D002244:Carbon; D000217:Acyltransferases; C077225:poly(3-hydroxyalkanoic acid) synthase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases