Production of Bioplastic Compounds by Genetically Manipulated and Metabolic Engineered Cyanobacteria

Direct conversion of carbon dioxide to valuable compounds is a desirable way to reduce the environmental burden and switch from fossil to renewable fuels. Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria that perform oxygenic photosynthesis and are able to produce valuable compounds from carbon dioxide in the air. Synechocystis and Synechococcus species, model unicellular cyanobacteria, can produce succinate and lactate, which are commodity chemicals used to generate bioplastics. Several cyanobacteria are also able to produce polyhydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable polyester that accumulates under nitrogen or phosphorus starvation. Genetic manipulation succeeded in increasing the productivity of succinate, lactate, and polyhydroxybutyrate from cyanobacteria. We summarize the recent findings in this review.