title: Biopolymer deuteration for neutron scattering and other isotope-sensitive techniques.
abstract: The use of microbial biosynthesis to produced deuterated recombinant proteins is a well-established practice in investigations of the relationship between molecular structure and function using neutron scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. However, there have been few reports of using microbial synthetic capacity to produce labeled native biopolymers. Here, we describe methods for the production of deuterated polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolyesters in bacteria, the polysaccharide chitosan in the yeast Pichia pastoris, and cellulose in the bacterium Gluconacetobacter xylinus. The resulting molecules offer not only multiple options in creating structural contrast in polymer blends and composites in structural studies but also insight into the biosynthetic pathways themselves.
authors.affiliation: National Deuteration Facility, Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New South Wales, Australia; Bio/Polymer Research Group, Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: National Deuteration Facility, Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.affiliation: National Deuteration Facility, Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Tamim A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Darwish
authors.affiliation: Bio/Polymer Research Group, Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: L John R
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: National Deuteration Facility, Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New South Wales, Australia; Bio/Polymer Research Group, Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: phx@ansto.gov.au.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Holden
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D003470:Culture Media; D003903:Deuterium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000378:metabolism; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D009502:Neutrons; D010843:Pichia / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D003470:Culture Media; D003903:Deuterium; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D011091:Polyesters; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
keywords: Bacterial cellulose; Biopolyesters; Chitosan; Deuterated biopolymers; Polyhydroxyalkanoates