Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
Production of Organic Acids01:25

Production of Organic Acids

Lactic acid, an important organic acid extensively applied in food, pharmaceutical, and biodegradable polymer industries, is primarily produced via microbial fermentation. This method is favored over chemical synthesis due to its environmental sustainability and capacity for enantiomerically pure product formation. Among various microbial processes, the fermentation of starch-based substrates stands out due to the abundance and renewability of raw materials like corn and potatoes.Hydrolysis of...
Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Serum α-Klotho associated with oral health among a nationally representative sample of US adults.

Frontiers in endocrinology·2022
Same author

Regulation of wakefulness by astrocytes in the lateral hypothalamus.

Neuropharmacology·2022
Same author

Linear ubiquitination of PTEN impairs its function to promote prostate cancer progression.

Oncogene·2022
Same author

TGFB2-AS1 inhibits triple-negative breast cancer progression via interaction with SMARCA4 and regulating its targets <i>TGFB2</i> and <i>SOX2</i>.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2022
Same author

Baseline proteomics characterisation of the emerging host biomanufacturing organism Halomonas bluephagenesis.

Scientific data·2022
Same author

Dose-response relationship between dietary inflammatory index and diabetic kidney disease in US adults.

Public health nutrition·2022
Same journal

Direct impure water electrolysis at industrial scale.

Chemical Society reviews·2026
Same journal

Catalytic valorization of polyolefins: from catalysts and processes to reactors.

Chemical Society reviews·2026
Same journal

Designing stable π-radicals.

Chemical Society reviews·2026
Same journal

Antibacterial drug discovery: challenges and preclinical promises from synthetic small molecules.

Chemical Society reviews·2026
Same journal

Selective carbon-carbon bond cleavage involving alkene moieties.

Chemical Society reviews·2026
Same journal

Circularly polarized luminescence: an easy path from molecules to supramolecular systems and beyond.

Chemical Society reviews·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
08:14

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

A microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) based bio- and materials industry.

Guo-Qiang Chen1

  • 1Dept Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. chengq@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

Chemical Society Reviews
|July 23, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), versatile biopolyesters from bacteria, offer applications in bioplastics, biomaterials, and biofuels. PHA technologies are creating value chains from fermentation to medical uses.

More Related Videos

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
08:43

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer

Published on: October 24, 2025

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
08:14

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
08:43

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer

Published on: October 24, 2025

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Polymer Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are bacterial biopolyesters with diverse applications.
  • Research spans microbiology, biochemistry, polymer science, and medical fields.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review PHA applications, production, and emerging uses.
  • To highlight the industrial value chain of PHA technologies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of PHA research and development.
  • Analysis of industrial applications and biotechnological advancements.

Main Results:

  • PHA finds use as bioplastics, fine chemicals, implant biomaterials, medicines, and biofuels.
  • Bacterial PHA synthesis enhances microbial robustness and fermentation yields.
  • PHA-related proteins (PhaP, PhaZ, PhaC) aid protein purification and drug targeting.

Conclusions:

  • PHA technologies form an integrated industrial value chain.
  • PHA has broad potential across materials, energy, and medical sectors.