Biopolymer Production by Haloferax Mediterranei (original) (raw)

General and Applied Aspects of Halophilic Microorganisms, 1991

Abstract

The halobacterium H. mediterranei is an organism of biotechnological potential due to its capacity as polymer producer. This microorganism accumulates poly-s-hydroxybutyrate as intracellular granules in very large amounts. PHB is an interesting biopolymer for its possible use as biodegradable thermoplastic. The conditions of culture for PHB production have been studied and optimized in batch as well as in continuous culture. Phosphate limitation is an essential condition for PHB accumulation in important quantities. Glucose and starch were the carbon sources giving the highest productivities. Under favourable circumstances in batch culture a production of 6.5 g/1 PHB was reached, being 67% of the total biomass dry weight, and with a yield over the carbon source of 0.33 gg-1. There is evidence indicating that the PHB produced by H. mediterranei is a copolymer with monomers of more than four carbon atoms, which is favourable for the manipulation of the physical properties of the polymer. H. mediterranei accumulates another polymer extracellularly. It is a sulfated heteropolysaccharide that has very good rheological properties which are very resistant to environmental stress including, as may be expected, salinity. High productivities of this polysaccharide require sugars as carbon source, a condition that also favours PHB accumulation.

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