Production and Application of Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Polyhydroxyalkanoates의 생산 및 응용

Polyhydroxyalkanoates[PHAs] are the polyester of hydroxyalkanoates(HAs) synthesized by numerous bacteria as an intracellular carbon and energy storage compound and accumulated as granules in the cytoplasm of the cells under unbalanced growth condition in the presence of excess carbon source. Even though PHAs have been recognized as good candidates for biodegradable plastics, their high price compared with conventional plastics has limited their use in a wide mange of applications. To reduce the high production cost of PHAs, many group of scientists have devoted much efforts to improve productivity by employing various microorganisms and by developing efficient culture techniques. The strategies of producing PHAs to a high concentration with high productivity and their potential applications are reviewed.