• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.391-396
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• 1997

Two series of carbon sources, linear primary $C_1$~$C_9$ alcohols and linear $C_2$~$C_{10}$ monocarboxylic acids were tested for PHA synthesis in Paracoccus denitrificans. The results showed that the growth-associated synthesis of PHA could be referred only to the carbon sources with odd number of carbon except methanol. For all carbon sources with even number of carbon, nitrogen limitation was required to induce PHA synthesis in P. denitrificans. Poly(3-hydroxyvalerate)[P(3HV)] homopolymer was synthesized from $C_5$, $C_7$, and $C_9$ while growing in the presence of nitrogen, but the nitrogen depletion in the later growth period incorporated 3-hydroxybutyrate(3HB) unit into the polymer chain. The optimum C/N ratio for P(3HV) homopolymer production was found to be 10 when the strain was grown on 10 ml/l of valeric acid for 96 h. P. denitrificans synthesized P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers from n-hexanoic and n-octanoic acid. The microstructural characterics of the P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymer from n-propanol was investigated using $^13C$-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, showing a structural heterogeneity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1625-1630
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• 2008

A microorganism capable of producing high level of poly-3-hydoxybutyrate (PHB) from xylose was isolated from soil. The isolated strain J-65 was identified as Bacillus megaterium based on the morphological, biochemical and molecular biological characteristics. The optimum temperature and pH for the growth of B. megaterium J-65 were $37^{\circ}C$ and 8.0, respectively. The optimum medium composition for the cell growth was 2% xylose, 0.25% $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, 0.3% $Na_2HPO_4{\cdot}12H_2O$, and 0.1% $KH_2PO_4$. The optimum condition for PHB accumulation was same to the optimum condition for cell growth. Copolymer of ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric and ${\beta}$-hydroxyvaleric acid was produced when propionic acid was added to shake flasks containing 20 g/l of xylose. Fermenter culture was carried out to produce the high concentration of PHB. In batch culture, cell mass was 9.82 g/l and PHB content was 35% of dry cell weight. PHB produced by B. megaterium J-65 was identified as homopolymer of 3-hydoxybutyric acid by GC and NMR.