A challenge for biosynthesis of polymers containing aromatic monomers from unutilized biomass resources

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25871137
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biofunction/Bioprocess; Design and evaluation of sustainable and environmental conscious system
• Research Institution: National Institute of Technology, Kumamoto College (2014); Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2013)
• Principal Investigator: TOMIZAWA Satoshi 熊本高等専門学校, 生物化学システム工学科, 助教 (90634709)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: バイオマス / PHA / PHB / リグニン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To investigate the conversion of lignin derivatives to bio-polymers containing aromatic monomers, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-accumulating strains were cultured on mineral salt media containing each of the lignin derivatives and hydroxybenzoic acids, including intermediates derived from the metabolism of lignin derivatives in bacteria. Ralstonia eutropha H16 could synthesize PHA from hydroxybenzoic acids, but aromatic polymers were not produced in this strain. To examine the ability of PHA synthase, I tried in vitro polymerization of aromatic polymers using wild-type PHA synthases and aromatic monomers. However, aromatic polymers were not synthesized in this study.

Free Research Field

微生物工学