Rapid differentiation between short-chain-length and medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate-accumulating bacteria with spectrofluorometry
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Published on: February 15, 2012
Hsan-Au Wu1, Der-Shyan Sheu, Chia-Yin Lee
1Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan.
Abstract:
An approach for rapid differentiation between short-chain-length (scl) and medium-chain-length (mcl) polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) producers was developed. Polyhydroxyalkanoate-accumulated bacterial cells stained with Nile red were suspended in water and subjected to fluorescence spectroscopy at a fixed excitation wavelength of 488 nm. The scl-PHA-accumulated bacteria revealed a maximum emission wavelength at 590 nm, and for mcl-PHA producers were seen at a wavelength of 575 nm. Combining Nile red staining and fluorescence spectroscopy, the accumulated PHA granules could be rapidly differentiated into scl-PHA and mcl-PHA from the intact cells.
