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Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate production by lactic acid bacteria
B Aslim1, F Calişkan, Y Beyatli
1Gazi University, Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Biology, Ankara, Turkey.
FEMS Microbiology Letters
|March 21, 1998
Summary
Lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus, and Streptococcus, were analyzed for poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate production. Lactobacillus species generally produced higher yields of this biopolymer compared to other genera tested.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a microbial polyester with potential industrial applications.
- Lactic acid bacteria are widely used in food fermentation and possess diverse metabolic capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate production in various lactic acid bacteria genera.
- To investigate potential correlations between PHB accumulation and bacterial growth.
Main Methods:
- Bacteria were cultured in specific media (MRS or Elliker broth).
- Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate was extracted using chloroform and quantified spectrophotometrically after conversion to crotonic acid.
- Cell biomass was obtained via centrifugation and cell walls lysed with sodium hypochlorite.
Main Results:
- Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate yields varied significantly across genera: Lactobacillus (6.6-35.8%), Lactococcus (9.0-20.9%), Pediococcus (1.1-8.0%), and Streptococcus (6.8-17.2%).
- One Lactobacillus species was found to not produce PHB.
- Lactobacillus species generally exhibited higher PHB production than the other genera.
- No significant correlation was observed between PHB production and bacterial cell density.
Conclusions:
- Lactobacillus species are promising candidates for poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate accumulation.
- Bacterial genera and species exhibit distinct capacities for PHB synthesis.
- Further research may explore optimizing conditions for PHB production in selected lactic acid bacteria.